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Why is whole blood not recommended for the testing of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)?

April 26, 2017blood borrelia burgdorferi disease Lyme recommended Testing

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Why is whole blood not recommended for the testing of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)?

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Whole blood is not a preferable sample type for PCR-based detection for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA because spirochetes may be present for a limited time in blood, so the negative PCR result does not rule-out Lyme disease. Tissues most likely to harbor B. burgdorferi are lymph nodes in the region of the tick bite, muscle, fascia, and synovial (joint) membrane. Less frequently, the spirochetes end up in meninges.