Tick Boot Camp

Episode 434: Lyme Tezted - an interview with Doctor Leona Gilbert

2 months ago

In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we interview Dr. Leona Gilbert, the CEO of Tezted, a medical device company revolutionizing diagnostics for tick-borne diseases. Dr. Gilbert shares her journey as a Canadian-born scientist, her groundbreaking work, and the limitations of current diagnostic methods for Lyme disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Gilbert's Background: Dr. Gilbert moved from Canada to Finland and later to the US to pursue research. Her personal experiences with tick-borne diseases fueled her passion for improving diagnostics.
  • Challenges with Traditional Testing: Current Lyme disease tests often look for a single strain of Borrelia, missing co-infections like Bartonella and Babesia. The "one germ, one disease" approach is outdated.
  • Comprehensive Testing for Tick-Borne Illnesses: Dr. Gilbert’s research emphasizes the importance of screening for multiple pathogens simultaneously. Her work led to the development of TickPlex Plus, a test that screens for various Borrelia strains, Bartonella, Babesia, and other microbes.
  • Immune System Function: Rather than just testing for pathogens, it’s essential to assess the patient’s immune system function for a fuller understanding of their health status.

Key Topics Covered:

  1. Understanding Lyme Disease: A deep dive into Lyme disease's complex pathogenesis and why it's often misdiagnosed.
  2. Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases: Co-infections are common, and a broader testing panel is needed to accurately diagnose patients.
  3. Limitations of Western Medicine: Western medicine’s traditional approaches often fail to account for the complexities of Lyme disease and co-infections.
  4. Comprehensive Testing: Dr. Gilbert discusses the importance of her work in providing more accurate diagnostics through Tezted's TickPlex Plus test, which evaluates a wide range of tick-borne illnesses.
  5. The Role of the Immune System: Highlighting the need for immune function assessment alongside pathogen testing to truly understand and treat tick-borne diseases.

Where to Find the TickPlex Plus Test:

  • The TickPlex Plus test can be ordered through ArminLabs.
  • It will soon be available directly in the US, with updates expected on Tezted.com within the next four weeks.
The goal of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast is to help people liberate themselves and others from suffering caused by Lyme disease through validation, community building, belief that healing is possible, and modeling success. Listen to our Tick Boot Camp podcast using all major podcast streaming services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Our podcast is also integrated with smart home devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Apple TV. Ask your device to "play the Tick Boot Camp Podcast!"