# Suspected Tick-Borne Illness ##### A Smarter Strategy for Elusive Pathogens Tick-borne pathogens such as _Borrelia_, _Babesia_, and _Bartonella_ often go undetected due to low abundance and immune evasion. Galaxy’s multi-layered testing strategy helps detect what others miss. ## Why Traditional Tick-Borne Panels Can’t Keep Up Because these infections behave unpredictably, circulating one day and hiding the next, single-point testing often misses them. Their shifting presence in blood and tissues means that even well-designed panels can fail to detect current presence of a pathogen. That’s why many clinicians find traditional testing can’t keep pace with what’s happening inside the patient. - Serology tests only detect pathogen exposure, **not current pathogen presence** - Overlapping symptoms can **confuse diagnosis** Stealth pathogens demand a smarter diagnostic strategy, one that looks beyond antibodies and timing. ### A Smarter Strategy for Elusive Pathogens ###### Triple Draw BBB Direct Detect - Detects _Bartonella_, _Babesia_, and _Borrelia_ at the **genus level** - Uses **digital PCR** across **three serial blood draws** - **Increases detectability** for intermittently circulating pathogens ###### _Bartonella_ IgG Detect - Measures **immune response** to **four most prevalent** _Bartonella_ species - Helps interpret **past vs. possible current presence of a pathogen** - Supports **treatment planning** ###### Lyme Borrelia Direct Detect - Uses **Nanotrap® technology** to isolate _Borrelia_ OspA antigen from urine - Provides **non-invasive detection** of Lyme pathogen without relying on antibodies ### Designed for complex or unexplained cases. - Persistent or relapsing symptoms (fatigue, neuropathy, pain, dysautonomia) - Negative or inconclusive Lyme/co-infection tests - Tick, flea, or animal exposure (cats, dogs, livestock) - Functional or integrative care patients - Treatment protocol reassessment requiring clarity ## Understanding Infection Status: A Multi-Layered Approach Galaxy’s suspected tick-borne illness testing integrates multiple diagnostic perspectives to give clinicians a clearer picture of infection status. Each layer contributes unique insight. Together, they improve diagnostic confidence. ##### Triple Draw BBB Direct Detect ###### Increases the probability of detection. Testing across three days helps capture pathogens that circulate intermittently in the bloodstream. _Not all days yield the same results, serial draws matter._ ##### _Bartonella_ IgG Detect ###### Adds immune context to molecular findings. By measuring antibody levels against _Bartonella_, this test helps distinguish between past exposure and potential ongoing infection, supporting clinical interpretation. ##### Lyme _Borrelia_ Direct Detect ###### Identifies presence of pathogen even when serology fails. Using Nanotrap® technology, this non-invasive urine test isolates _Borrelia_ OspA antigen directly, providing clarity when antibody-based methods are inconclusive. ### The Result: Layered Insight for Clinical Confidence By combining direct detection with immune-response testing, Galaxy’s approach provides the **context, precision, and confidence** clinicians need to guide care in complex tick-borne disease cases. ## Trusted by Healthcare Providers Nationwide “Galaxy’s direct detection gives my team the clarity we need. Their science, education, and partnership have changed how we approach complex tick-borne cases. When I need objective data, not just a panel that lights up, Galaxy is the gold standard.” — Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, Turnpaugh Health & Wellness “Galaxy is leading the field in stealth pathogen diagnostics, not just with innovation, but with transparency and trust.” —Dr. Shannon Smith, Turnpaugh Health & Wellness “Galaxy Diagnostics is the single best test you can order to manage stealth infections. It’s a reliable, leading-edge tool that stretches a provider’s ability to diagnose accurately where others fall short.” — Dr. Jay Stevens, Essential Health “Galaxy has been the most consistently helpful tool in confirming Bartonella exposure and guiding effective treatment — often when other labs miss it.” — Dr. Maria Marian, Jyzen “What sets Galaxy apart is their science and their partnership, they don’t just deliver results, they help me contextualize them so I can treat patients with clarity and confidence.” — Dr. Tonya Cramer, Essential Health “What gives me confidence in this testing is the strength of the underlying science—the reproducibility, the specificity, and the rigor of the methodology. That combination makes it a more reliable and clinically actionable tool.” — Dr. Casey Kelley, MD, ABoIM, Founder, Case Integrative Health ## Ready to Elevate Your Diagnostic Capabilities? [Learn more about our research](/content/why-galaxy/our-research/index.html) [Explore Testing Solutions](/content/for-providers/index.html)