Vibrant Wellness’ Jason Barker, ND, outlines prevention measures, diagnostic red flags, and advances in multiplex testing for tick-borne diseases.
As tick season takes hold across the country, healthcare professionals are emphasizing prevention and early detection of tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme disease. In recognition of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Vibrant Wellness clinical lab educator Jason Barker, ND, shared practical prevention strategies and diagnostic updates in a recent conversation on clinical preparedness.
“Prevention is key, especially for certain populations who are more susceptible, like forestry workers, farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pet owners, really anyone spending time in grassy or wooded areas,” Barker explained. He recommends protective clothing as a first line of defense, including “long pants, tall socks, and long sleeves. Sun-protective clothing with hoods can be helpful.” For repellents, he advised that “pyrethroids are effective, but for those preferring alternatives, essential oils like lavender or neem may offer some protection.”
Protective clothing, repellents, hot showers, and tick checks remain essential preventive strategies, especially for individuals with frequent outdoor exposure.
Clinicians should consider tick-borne illness in patients with summer flu-like symptoms, even without the classic erythema migrans rash.
Multiplex PCR and protein microarray platforms enhance diagnostic accuracy by detecting multiple pathogens or antibody responses in a single test.
Post-exposure hygiene is also critical. “After outdoor activity, a hot shower can help dislodge unattached ticks. A thorough body inspection is important, especially focusing on warm, moist areas such as behind the ears, behind the knees, and in skin folds,” Barker said. He noted the difficulty of detecting nymphal ticks as a key clinical challenge. “One challenge is detecting nymphal ticks, which are about the size of a poppy seed and can transmit infection despite their small size.”
On the diagnostic front, Barker emphasized the importance of considering seasonal context. “Clinicians should consider tick-borne illness in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms during the summer, when influenza is uncommon. It's important to ask about outdoor exposure and tick contact, even in the absence of the classic erythema migrans rash, which occurs in only about 30 to 40 percent of Lyme cases.”
New diagnostic technologies are addressing many of the shortcomings of traditional methods. A multiplex protein microarray developed by Vibrant Wellness allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in a single test. Published in Scientific Reports in January 2025, the platform demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity over conventional tools. It can detect antibodies to more than 400 antigens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease.
Barker discussed the limitations of current testing and how newer approaches are improving clinical accuracy. “Beyond indirect antibody tests, we use direct detection via PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction, similar to what people became familiar with during COVID,” he said. “Standard PCR can be limited by the small inoculum delivered from a tick bite, making detection challenging. That’s why platforms like Vit use multiplex PCR, which targets multiple genetic sequences from the pathogen rather than a single marker. This approach increases the likelihood of detection and allows for more accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.”
Ongoing studies continue to explore diagnostic advancements. Vibrant’s recent publication in Scientific Reports described a customizable multiplex microarray capable of identifying antibodies for a broad range of tick-borne and other infectious diseases, signaling a move toward more comprehensive and accurate testing in clinical settings.
Part 1 of our interview with Barker:
Part 2:
