Lt. Col. Gordon Miller, KACH’s deputy commander for clinical services, said providers will determine treatment based on the history and a physical exam of the patient. If the clinical history and exam suggested Lyme, the patient should be treated without waiting for test results.

"The test becomes important when the diagnosis is low on the differential list or the history is not clear cut," he said.

Since the test results may not be ready for up to two weeks, providers should always treat the disease when diagnosed, Miller added.