Diagnosing Lyme and Coinfections

How do we diagnose Lyme and Coinfections in the immunocompromised population?

This talk was at the CIRSx (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) conference in June 2025 where world renowed researcher and neurologist, Dr. Dale Bredesen, MD, was the keynote speaker. This talk is an introduction to an ongoing research project with Dr. Peg DiTulio, DNP one of the founders of ISEAI (International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness).

Dr. DiTulio, DNP specializes in treating CIRS and Lyme and over the past few decades, she has seen many patients initially test negative for Lyme only to later, after the immune system begins to come back online, test positive.  Thus the research question, “How do we diagnose Lyme + coinfections in the immunocompromised population?” Our project investigates the current testing methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and the differences in testing at each laboratory. Dr. Varga, DAOM presents the numerous variables that exist in answering the research question.

Dr. DiTulio, DNP and Dr. Varga, DAOM continue their work together and aim to publish their results within the next few years. Another important issue they are exploring is when to treat for both a negative and a positive result; as aggressive treatment has been shown to cause significant damage to the healthy symbiotic microbiome that exists within our bodies. Talk available online June 2026. CIRSx2025