One 4 mL lavender top tube (EDTA) or 8 thick and 8 thin blood films. Fill tube at least 1/3 full.
Handling:
Refrigerate. Send to laboratory the same day, or prepare blood films and submit in slide folders or wrap in heavy cardboard and tape closed.
Standard Volume:
4 mL EDTA whole blood or 8 thick and 8 thin blood films.
Minimum Volume:
1 mL EDTA whole blood or 2 thick and 2 thin blood films.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Comments:
Blood smear examination is useful in identifying endemic relapsing fever due to Borrelia recurrentis organisms, which are present in the blood during febrile episodes. Lyme disease is not evaluated by this assay as it is caused by a spirochete (Borellia burgdorferi) which does not produce septic infection. For Lyme disease evaluation, serologic testing is recommended [see Lyme Antibodies Detection (59000)].
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