Virachip system (RIPL Lab 01/150)

This requirement is for the replacement of the existing Virachip system used by RIPL to carry out Lyme disease immunoblot testing for which RIPL acts as the frontline reference laboratory in England for this diagnostic service. The ViraChip platform uses a multiplex protein microarray containing the VlsE antigen together with multiple Borrelia-specific antigens. This enables simultaneous assessment of a broad antibody response rather than reliance on a single marker. The assay detects both IgM and IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, supporting diagnosis across different stages of infection.