I recently received this advice:
B. burgdorferi isolation via culture from any sample is the most
definite way to prove that the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is correct.
If patient has neurological symptoms due to LB, analysis of spinal fluid
should be always attempted. I would suggest not only antibody analysis,
but culture and PCR of CSF as well. It is best to subject the sample to
all available testing techniques, since its an invasive procedure and
antibodies are not 100% reliable.
Are these tests available in the UK? Particularly the culture technique?
Thank you,
Linda
