[at-l] Ticks and telephones

[askowronek at mindspring.com (amy)]

On Jan 21, 2006, at 9:26 AM, boulder ... wrote:

>
>  i know the vaccine is defunct, but there is a blood test. even if  
> i don't feel sick when i get into towns In a couple of the states  
> listed above, can i go to a health center or hospital and ask for a  
> test since I'm a long distance hiker who most likely has been  
> exposed to dear tricks? I know it takes a few days for results. I  
> figure I'd call from further up the trail for results. I don't know  
> how long after exposure it takes to test positive.

I'm sure you can, but the most common test has a high false negative  
rate.  Not that helpful.  The more specific test is also way more  
expensive and takes longer to get the results back.

I think a better course of action would be to go into a hospital if  
you're feeling ill and get a course of antibiotics.

I caught Lyme on the trail this year (or thereabouts) and waited a  
month to get treated, and it sucked.  So if you're hiking and you  
feel bad, don't fool around.