ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Borrelia burgdorferi Antibody, IgM by Western Blot (CSF) : 0055258

Mnemonic: LYMEMWBCSF

Methodology: Qualitative Western Blot
Performed: Sun-Sat
Reported: 1-3 days
Specimen Required: Collect: CSF.

Specimen Preparation: Transfer 3 mL CSF to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 2 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Contaminated or heat-inactivated specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Reference Interval:
Effective August 15, 2011

Negative
Interpretive Data: For this assay, a positive result is reported when any 2 or more of the following bands are present: 23, 39, or 41 kDa. All other banding patterns are reported as negative.

The detection of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in cerebrospinal fluid may indicate central nervous system infection. However, consideration must be given to possible contamination by blood or transfer of serum antibodies across the blood-brain barrier.

Refer to Statement E under Testing Information at http://www.aruplab.com.
Note: A negative result indicates that the Western blot evaluation for Borrelia burgdorferi antibody demonstrates no antibodies unique to Borrelia burgdorferi, and therefore is not supportive of Lyme disease.

A positive result indicates that the Western blot evaluation for Lyme antibody is consistent with the presence of antibody produced by patients in response to infection by Borrelia burgdorferi and suggests the presence of Lyme disease. Although the test has been shown to have a high degree of reliability for diagnostic purposes, laboratory data should always be correlated with clinical findings.

Current CDC recommendations for the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease are to screen with a polyvalent EIA test and confirm equivocal and positive with Western blot.  Both IgM and IgG Western blots should be performed on specimens obtained less than four weeks after appearance of erythema migrans.  Only IgG Western blot should be performed on specimens greater than four weeks after disease onset.  IgM Western blot in the chronic stage is not recommended and does not aid in the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis or chronic Lyme disease.  Please submit requests for appropriate Western blot testing within 10 days.
CPT Code(s): 86617
Cross References: Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi Antibody, IgM by Western Blot (CSF))
 
 

 

 

 
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