VA Leads the US in Informing Patients about Inaccurate Tests

Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

Governor McDonnell Ceremonially Signs the Lyme Disease Testing Information
Disclosure Act of 2013
– Legislation Makes Virginia First State to Require Health Care Providers to
Notify Those Tested for Lyme Disease That Tests Can Produce False Negatives –

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2013

Contact: Paul Shanks
Phone: (804) 225-4262
Email: Paul.Shanks@governor.virginia.gov

RICHMOND - Surrounded by legislators and community leaders, Governor Bob
McDonnell ceremonially signed today HB1933, the Lyme Disease Testing Information
Disclosure Act of 2013. The legislation makes Virginia the first state in the
nation to require health care providers to notify those tested for Lyme disease
that current laboratory testing can produce false negatives, especially in the
early stage of the disease.

Speaking today about the bill signing, Governor McDonnell, "This legislation is
a major milestone in the fight against Lyme disease and an important step
towards ensuring the continuing health and welfare of Virginians. We must
continue to work together to make certain that all Virginians are properly
educated on the dangers of Lyme disease."

Delegate Barbara Comstock states, "When the Lyme Disease Testing Information
Disclosure Act goes into effect on July 1st, we will have a patient-centered
solution that gets information about testing problems directly to those
suffering from Lyme Disease so they can seek additional testing, if necessary,
as well as appropriate treatment. I would like to give a special thanks to
Governor McDonnell for his support of this legislation and to the National
Capital Lyme Disease Association for their grassroots commitment to ensuring
that this effort was a successful one."

Monte Skall, Executive Director of the National Capital Lyme and Tick-borne
Disease Association, adds that "With the passing of the Lyme Disease Testing
Information Disclosure Act of 2013, Virginia has established itself as a leader
in the fight against this dreadful disease and serves as a model for state
action across the country."

Today's bill signing was held at Claude Moore Park in the heart of Loudoun
County, Virginia. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the Loudoun
County Lyme Disease Commission, Chairman York says "I am very pleased that
Governor McDonnell has chosen to sign this important bill here in Loudoun County
as our Board of Supervisors continues its aggressive approach in slowing the
rate of Lyme disease with a 10-point-plan to mitigate this devastating illness.
We have taken an aggressive approach to slowing the rate of the disease by
raising awareness and educating residents on prevention measures in that we had
219 recorded cases of Lyme disease in Loudoun County last year."

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United
States. The Virginia Department of Health reports that there were an estimated
1,110 cases of Lyme disease in the state in 2012, up 9 percent from 2011. Cases
were reported in all regions of the state.

For more information about Lyme disease please view the Virginia Department of
Health Lyme Disease Fact Sheet at:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/factsheets/lyme.htm or
contact Maribeth Brewster at (804) 864-7008 or at
maribeth.brewster@vdh.virginia.gov.

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