Does more favourable handling of the cerebrospinal fluid increase the diagnostic sensitivity of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato-specific PCR in Lyme neuroborreliosis?

Detection of <i>Bb</i> DNA using PCR is promising, but clinical utility is hampered by low diagnostic sensitivity. We aimed to examine whether diagnostic sensitivity can be improved by the use of larger cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes and faster handling of samples.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Patients who underwent CSF examination for LNB were included.

We collected two millilitres of CSF for PCR analysis, extracted DNA from the pellets within 24 h and analysed the eluate by two real-time PCR protocols (16S rRNA and OspA). Patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for LNB were classified as LNB cases and the rest as controls.</p> <p><b>Results:</b><i>Bb</i> DNA in CSF was detected by PCR in seven of 28 adults with LNB. Two were <i>Bb</i> antibody negative.