In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we interview Dr. Leona Gilbert, the CEO of Tezted, a medical device company revolutionizing diagnostics for tick-borne diseases. Dr. Gilbert shares her journey as a Canadian-born scientist, her groundbreaking work, and the limitations of current diagnostic methods for Lyme disease.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Gilbert’s Background: Dr. Gilbert moved from Canada to Finland and later to the US to pursue research. Her personal experiences with tick-borne diseases fueled her passion for improving diagnostics.
- Challenges with Traditional Testing: Current Lyme disease tests often look for a single strain of Borrelia, missing co-infections like Bartonella and Babesia. The "one germ, one disease" approach is outdated.
- Comprehensive Testing for Tick-Borne Illnesses: Dr. Gilbert’s research emphasizes the importance of screening for multiple pathogens simultaneously. Her work led to the development of TickPlex Plus, a test that screens for various Borrelia strains, Bartonella, Babesia, and other microbes.
- Immune System Function: Rather than just testing for pathogens, it’s essential to assess the patient’s immune system function for a fuller understanding of their health status.
Key Topics Covered:
- Understanding Lyme Disease: A deep dive into Lyme disease’s complex pathogenesis and why it’s often misdiagnosed.
- Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases: Co-infections are common, and a broader testing panel is needed to accurately diagnose patients.
- Limitations of Western Medicine: Western medicine’s traditional approaches often fail to account for the complexities of Lyme disease and co-infections.
- Comprehensive Testing: Dr. Gilbert discusses the importance of her work in providing more accurate diagnostics through Tezted’s TickPlex Plus test, which evaluates a wide range of tick-borne illnesses.
- The Role of the Immune System: Highlighting the need for immune function assessment alongside pathogen testing to truly understand and treat tick-borne diseases.
Where to Find the TickPlex Plus Test:
- The TickPlex Plus test can be ordered through ArminLabs.
- It will soon be available directly in the US, with updates expected on Tezted.com within the next four weeks.
