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Test Code OLIGS Oligoclonal Banding, Serum


Specimen Required


Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see:

-OLIG / Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid

-MSP3 / Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Profile, Serum and Spinal Fluid

 

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Useful For

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; especially useful in patients with equivocal clinical presentation and radiological findings

 

Determining number of serum oligoclonal bands in order to calculate the number of cerebrospinal fluid-specific bands present

Method Name

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see:

-OLIG / Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid

-MSP3 / Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Profile, Serum and Spinal Fluid

 

Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) with IgG Immunoblot Detection

Reporting Name

Serum Bands

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Ambient  14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus    OK

Clinical Information

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is dependent on clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings. The detection of increased intrathecal immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis is the basis for current diagnostic laboratory tests for MS. These tests include kappa free light chains in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CSF oligoclonal band (OCB) detection. Abnormal CSF OCB patterns have been reported in 70% to 80% of MS patients.

 

Increased intrathecal Ig synthesis may occur in other inflammatory CSF diseases, and therefore, this assay is not specific for MS

Reference Values

Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see:

-OLIG / Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid

-MSP3 / Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Profile, Serum and Spinal Fluid

Interpretation

When the oligoclonal band assay detects 2 or more unique IgG bands in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the result is positive.

 

CSF is used in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) by identifying increased intrathecal IgG synthesis qualitatively (oligoclonal bands). The presence of 2 or more unique CSF oligoclonal bands was reintroduced as one of the diagnostic criteria for MS in the 2017 revised McDonald criteria. These findings, however, are not specific for MS as CSF-specific IgG synthesis may also be found in patients with other neurologic diseases including infectious, inflammatory, cerebrovascular, and paraneoplastic disorders. Clinical correlation recommended.

Cautions

These tests are not specific for multiple sclerosis.

Method Description

The oligoclonal band (OCB) assay requires paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples. Unconcentrated CSF and diluted serum are electrophoresed by isoelectric focusing. The separated immunoglobulins (Ig) are visualized by an IgG immunoblot, and OCBs that are present in the CSF and not in the serum are reported. The assay uses reagents from Helena Laboratories.(Keir G, Luxton RW, Thompson EJ: Isoelectric focusing of cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins G: an annotated update. Ann Clin Biochem. 1990;27:436-443; Hortin GL: Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins. In: Burtis CA, Bruns DE, eds. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2015:chap 18)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

4 to 7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

83916

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
OLIGS Serum Bands In Process

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
2783 Serum Bands 100755-8

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.4 mL