The NVRL have been advised by the Lyme Disease Service in Public Health England, Porton that a contemporaneous serum sample must accompany all CSF samples requiring testing for Lyme Neuroborreliosis. The serum must be taken on the same day or in extremis within a day either side of the CSF sample.

Please note that CSF samples received in the NVRL without an accompanying serum specimen will not be referred for testing, a minimum volume of 0.5ml (for both serum and CSF) is required.

For further information on laboratory testing in Lyme Disease and changes to the PHE, Porton Lyme Disease Service, please refer to the below documents.

Please contact the NVRL at 01 716 4418 if you would like to discuss this matter further.

PHE re Changes to RIPL Lyme Disease service

PHE re Notes on laboratory tests for Lyme disease

EFNS guideline 2010 European lyme neuroborreliosis