Could a Blood Transfusion Transmit Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is primarily spread by tick bites
But transmission through blood has been questioned
Borrelia can survive in stored blood under certain conditions
Human transmission through transfusion has not been confirmed
Could Lyme disease be transmitted through a blood transfusion? The risk remains theoretical but biologically plausible. While laboratory studies suggest the organism can survive in stored blood, no confirmed human cases have been documented.
Lyme disease is primarily transmitted through tick bites. However, researchers have questioned whether Borrelia burgdorferi could also be transmitted through blood transfusion.
Studies have shown that Borrelia can survive in stored blood under certain conditions. This raises concern that infected donor blood could potentially transmit infection, even in the absence of symptoms.
What the Research Shows
Laboratory studies demonstrate that Borrelia burgdorferi can persist in blood products for a period of time. In experimental settings, the organism has remained viable in refrigerated blood, suggesting that transmission through transfusion is biologically possible.
Despite this, there have been no well-documented cases of Lyme disease transmitted through blood transfusion in humans.
Why the Risk Appears Low
Several factors likely reduce the risk of transmission:
- Blood donors are screened for illness and symptoms
- Many individuals with Lyme disease receive treatment before donating
- The level of circulating bacteria in blood may be low, particularly outside early infection
Unlike some infections, Lyme disease is not currently screened for in the blood supply.
For more on testing limitations, see Lyme disease test accuracy.
Why This Question Matters Clinically
Although the risk appears low, the possibility of transmission cannot be entirely excluded.
This raises an important clinical question: should screening be considered for Lyme disease in endemic regions, particularly for donors with recent symptoms or tick exposure?
When evaluating unexplained illness after transfusion, clinicians may consider a broad differential—including tick-borne infections.
Clinical Takeaway
Lyme disease transmission through blood transfusion remains theoretical. While laboratory evidence suggests survival of the organism in blood products, human transmission has not been clearly documented.
Clinical awareness remains important when symptoms are unexplained and exposure risk is possible.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
“It is unlikely that an individual will donate blood if they have had a tick bite, erythema migrans (EM) rash or were ill, the author writes” They MUST be kidding, right??? How many of us went years/decades being told that there was NOTHING wrong with us, so we did our best to live our lives as if that were true – including donating blood, being on organ transplant lists and more. I happen to know that I’m not the only one that donated blood, or had that I was an organ donor before it was confirmed I had these infections.
The authors of this paper have raised an important question as the the potential risk. They are not discussing specific cases. Their paper lays down the foundation for further study.
prof prem raj pushpakaran writes — 2018 marks the 200 years since the first human-to-human blood transfusion!!
I had over $130,000.00 of plasma in the hospital. After two weeks out of the hospital I got Alpha Gal. People can say what they want but I will always believe it came from the plasma.
would transfused blood containing borrellia burgdorf show in skin first day post op
I have not seen a skin rash for Lyme disease after a transfusion. I have seen individuals who a recent infection who did not show an infection until after a procedure.