DE SB249

Requires health-care providers (nurses, physicians, laboratory technologists/technicians, or phlebotomists) to provide written notice to patients when drawing blood for Lyme disease testing

The mandatory written notice must explain that Lyme disease laboratory tests can produce false negative and false positive results, and that the patient's immune system may not have produced enough antibodies to register a positive result

Patients must be informed that a negative test result does not necessarily mean they are Lyme disease-free, and they should contact their provider about retesting or treatment if unexplained symptoms continue

The notice requirement does not create any new cause of action or establish a standard of care that could be used as a basis for lawsuits

Information provided under this requirement and evidence of violations are not admissible in civil, judicial, or administrative proceedings