![]() Collect a 5-10ml blood sample for serology and send with the relevant clinical information to your usual pathology service for a screening immunoassay.burgdorferi sensu lato infection at some time (ie recent or past infection). Detection of a specified number of reactive bands is considered diagnostic for B. If the IgG screening test is positive, the specimen is tested by confirmatory immunoblot for specific IgG.If the IgG screening test is negative, and recently acquired Lyme disease is clinically suspected, a second serum specimen should be collected 4-8 weeks later.Tests for IgM may also be used if appropriate, depending on the time elapsed since onset of symptoms. IgG tests are preferred as these are more specific than IgM tests.The recommended testing strategy follows European and US-CDC guidelines for two-step serological testing with a screening immunoassay and a confirmatory immunoblot for antigens from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies (including B. It is important to include relevant clinical history on the request form, particularly travel history, date of any known tick exposure, date of onset of illness and symptoms, and any antibiotic treatment. Testing should be performed in NATA-accredited laboratories. Diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on clinical presentation and history, supported by laboratory testing performed in an accredited laboratory.Clinicians should keep an open mind about the possibility of locally-acquired Lyme disease.While locally-acquired Lyme disease cannot be ruled out, there is currently little evidence that it occurs in Australia. Although clinical presentations of a 'Lyme-like illness' without a history of overseas travel do occur here, the cause of such conditions has not been determined.In Australia, Lyme disease has been detected in returned travellers who have acquired the infection while travelling overseas. ![]() Ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi infection are found in temperate forested areas of northern Asia and Europe and North America. Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a multisystem tick-borne zoonosis caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies complex.
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