Borrelia burgdorferi Acute Serology

This test is referred to another lab outside our network
This does not affect where samples are sent and where your results are issued.
Description: 
Sample sent to PHE Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL), Porten Down for Borrelia burgdorferi IgM antibody testing. PCR testing of CSF samples is also available.
Clinical details: 
This tick-borne infectious disease most commonly occurs in patients with exposure to woodland, healthland, or travel to endemic areas. Borrelia infection may be aymptomatic or cause symptomatic Lyme disease. Symptoms range from a charateristic rash with a "flu-like illness" (in recent infection), to dermatological, neurological and cardiological manifestations (in later disease). Please discuss all suspected cases of acute Lyme disease with an infection specialist as this will guide the choice of test and how to interpret the result.
Synonyms or keywords: 
Borrelia, Lyme, Tick
Sample type and Volume required: 
2.5 – 5ml Yellow Top Serum Separation Tube (SST) Clotted Blood (for serum).
Turnaround time: 
14 working days
Storage and transport: 
Place labelled sample in a sealed sample bag and send to Central Specimen Reception (CSR). To prevent sample haemolysis please store samples in refrigerator if a delay in sending samples to CSR is unavoidable.
Contacts:
Infection Sciences Department at St Thomas' Hospital
020 7188 8008
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Core opening hours: Monday-Friday 0900-1730


For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.

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Last updated: 04/12/2017