Cessation of Referral of Samples to PHE Porton Down for Neuroborreliosis

Lymes Disease/Borrelia burgdorferi/Neuroborreliosis:

Cessation of Referral of Samples to PHE Porton Down

Following a review of referral services provided by NVRL in light of Brexit, and with a view to reducing turnaround times, the NVRL will no longer facilitate the transport of paired CSF and serum samples to PHE Porton Down, Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) for the investigation of suspected neuroborreliosis.

This service will cease on January 4^th 2022. Samples received after this date will be returned to the source laboratory.

Of note, the NVRL will continue to perform Borrelia burgdorferi serology, and will continue to refer those samples as appropriate to RIPL for confirmatory testing. 

This change in service provision only applies to the investigation of suspected neuroborreliosis.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this decision, but we do believe it is in the best interest of the patient.

Contact information for RIPL, Porton Down can be found below.

RIPL,

Operations

National Infection Services

Manor Farm Road, Porton Down

Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK

+44(0)1980 612348

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rare-and-imported-pathogens-laboratory-ripl-user-manual

NVRL will endeavour to circulate this Notification to regular users of this service, however it may not be possible to contact everyone.

Queries regarding this change in service provision can be sent via email to nvrl@healthmail.ie or to nvrl.qa@healthmail.ie

Reference: CN-21-21