Eurofins Biomnis code

WBLYG

Synonyms

• Borrelia
• burgdorferi
• Lyme
• Lyme disease

Specialty

Infectious

Clinical significance

Borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterium which is transmitted to humans from wild mammal reservoir hosts via the bite of infected ticks. The primary phase of Lyme borreliosis lasts between 10 and 20 days and is characterized by erythema migrans which spontaneously resolves. Sometime later (the period varies enormously), infected patients can present with cardiac symptoms and/or neurological complications and/or rheumatism, a complex syndrome which can be very difficult to diagnose. Similarly, testing for Lyme borreliosis poses problems. It is often impossible to isolate the bacterium itself although bacterial DNA can sometimes be detected in CSF or synovial fluid. Specific IgG and IgM can be assayed although serological results obtained for the CSF should always be compared with those for serum assayed at the same time. Antibodies appear 3 to 6 weeks after initial infection and can persist long after cure. Non-specific reactions can occur. For confirmation, Western blotting is specific but sometimes lacks sensitivity

Preanalytics

• 1 mL :
• serum, CSF
•   Reftrigerated

• A tube specifically for this analysis : No

Further information

.

Methodology

Immunoblot

Turnaround time

2 days