Eps 65. Lyme Missed, Lives Lost: Nicole Bell on Fixing Broken Diagnostics (GalaxyDx)

Lyme disease shouldn’t be a guessing game. In this episode, Nicole Bell—MIT/Duke engineer, author of What Lurks in the Woods, and CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics—shares how her husband’s undiagnosed Lyme and co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia) led to a tragic outcome… and why that drove her mission to change the standard of care for tick-borne illness. We break down:-Why antibody tests miss stealth infections -How direct detection (PCR, digital PCR) + sample enrichment improve sensitivity-Smart strategies to test co-infections (e.g., urine antigen for Borrelia, blood enrichment for Bartonella)-Practical tips (timing, pre-test movement/sauna, re-testing windows)-Advocacy: finding clinicians, navigating “normal” labs, and pushing for answersResources mentioned:Galaxy Diagnostics: galexydx.com (education center + testing info)Center for Lyme Action “State of Lyme Disease Research”Pathways for non-licensed practitioners (via Mosaic Diagnostics, Evexia, Rupa) – coming online soonIf you or a loved one is stuck with “inconclusive” results, this conversation offers a roadmap—grounded in science and born from lived experience.👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help someone who needs this. 💬 Drop your questions in the comments—we’ll compile for a follow-up Q&A.Chapters 00:00 Intro & Nicole’s story03:12 How Lyme was missed—and what it cost08:20 Antibody tests vs direct detection (PCR, dPCR)13:55 Sample enrichment: why it matters for stealth pathogens18:30 Co-infections 101: Bartonella, Babesia, more24:10 Practical testing tips (timing, prep, re-testing windows)28:45 Why “normal labs” ≠ no infection33:20 Access & upcoming practitioner pathways (Mosaic, Evexia, Rupa)37:40 Advocacy for patients & caregivers41:55 Resources + final takeaways