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2013 SESSION

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13102771D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1933 Offered January 9, 2013 Prefiled January 9, 2013 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-2963.2, relating to Lyme disease; disclosure of information to patients. ----------
Patrons-- Comstock, Greason, Ramadan, Rust, Cline, Crockett-Stark, Hugo, Minchew and Spruill
---------- Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-2963.2 as follows:

§ 54.1-2963.2. Lyme disease testing information disclosure.

Every physician licensed pursuant to this chapter shall provide the following notice related to Lyme disease to each patient for whom a laboratory test for the presence of Lyme disease is ordered:

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AS OF 2011 LYME DISEASE IS THE 6TH FASTEST GROWING DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOUR PHYSICIAN HAS ORDERED A LABORATORY TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF LYME DISEASE FOR YOU. CURRENT LABORATORY TESTING FOR LYME DISEASE CAN BE PROBLEMATIC AND STANDARD LAB TESTS OFTEN RESULT IN FALSE NEGATIVE AND FALSE POSITIVE RESULTS, AND IF DONE TOO EARLY, YOU MANY NOT HAVE PRODUCED ENOUGH ANTIBODIES TO BE CONSIDERED POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE REQUIRES TIME TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIES. IF YOU ARE TESTED FOR LYME DISEASE, AND THE RESULTS ARE NEGATIVE, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN YOU DO NOT HAVE LYME DISEASE. IF YOU CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE UNEXPLAINED SYMPTOMS, YOU SHOULD BE RETESTED PERIODICALLY AND YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.