Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have developed a rapid assay that, using a new set of biomarkers to detect Lyme disease, could be more sensitive than currently available diagnostics tests for the disease. The biomarkers are more effective at finding signs of Lyme disease infection in early stage examples, and it is speculated that this is due to the detection of antibodies that peak during the initial two to six weeks of infection, according to a National Institutes of Health news release.

For consideration by FDA, the assay will need to be further refined and tested, and the researchers are optimistic about its future development.

A study about the technology titled, “A Multiplex Serologic Test for Diagnosis of Lyme Disease for Point-of-Care Use”, was published this week in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.