Borrelia burgdorferi Serology

Description: 
qualitative Enzyme-linked fluorescent immuno-assay (ELFA) to detect IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Positive samples are sent to the reference laboratory for confirmation. This test may be negative in acute infection, so please discuss investigation choice with an infection specialist if there is a high clinical suspicion for lyme disease.
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).
Related condition or disease: 
Lyme Disease
Synonyms or keywords: 
Borrelia, Lyme, Tick
Department: 
Infection Sciences Department
Location: 
St Thomas' Hospital
Sample type and Volume required: 
2.5 – 5ml Yellow Top Serum Separation Tube (SST) Clotted Blood (for serum).
Turnaround time: 
5 working days
Criteria for acceptance / rejections of sample
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.
Laboratory: 
Virology Laboratory at St Thomas'

Print as a PDF

Last updated: 10/07/2018