Tick-borne disease

Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care
Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care 1024 683 David Stukus, MD and William Long, MD
Photo of lone star tick on a leaf, the tick has a white dot on the center of its back

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) presents a unique diagnostic challenge for clinicians, often leading to unnecessary testing in patients with vague allergic symptoms or solely due to a history of a tick bite with no other symptoms. Understanding when — and when not — to order testing can prevent overdiagnosis, patient anxiety and unnecessary costs. AGS is…