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<p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) Clinical Knowledge
Summaries (CKS) are specifically aimed at general practices (GPs), and cover the availability
of testing services. The entomology group in the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
also has a tick awareness scheme, which sends out information on avoiding tick bites
in a spring campaign, and supports local authorities in areas with a high prevalence
of Lyme disease. Further information on Lyme disease, access to testing, and the NICE’s
CKS’ is available respectively at the links below:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lyme-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lyme-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis</a></p><p><a
href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng95" target="_blank">https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng95</a></p><p><a
href="https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/lyme-disease/management/management/" target="_blank">https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/lyme-disease/management/management/</a></p><p>All
confirmatory testing in England is performed by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory
(RIPL). Delays may occur in the referring laboratory when submitting the sample, during
testing at the RIPL, or when accessing the results, which are sent back electronically,
before being passed onto GPs. Only the RIPL is within the UKHSA’s control, and the
RIPL is planning to introduce new technology to speed up tests for neuroborreliosis.</p><p>National
data analysis is released through the Fingertips system, which is regularly updated.
The annual number of cases of Lyme disease varies from year to year, depending on
weather conditions in the Lyme season, the effects of weather and human activities
on animals that harbor the disease, and the tick population. Further information on
the Fingertips system is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-protection/data"
target="_blank">https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-protection/data</a></p>
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