Test Details
Methodology
Isoelectric focusing (IEF) and immunoblotting on agarose gel
Result Turnaround Time
4 - 6 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Use
Diagnose diseases of the central nervous system including meningitis, tumor, syphilis, and multiple sclerosis
References
Custom Additional Information
Most of the clinical interest in CSF electrophoresis is focused on the γ region. Oligoclonal bands are multiple distinct bands in the γ zone of the CSF pattern that are not present in serum. These bands in the CSF pattern are produced by a limited number of immunocompetent cell clones, each producing IgG with its own specificity. More than 90% of patients with multiple sclerosis show oligoclonal banding at some time during the course of their disease.
The presence of oligoclonal bands in CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis does not correlate with the activity of the demyelinating process. Oligoclonal bands can be present even when the CSF IgG level is normal.
Approximately 2% to 3% of clinically confirmed MS patients show little or no evidence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF; however oligoclonal bands may develop as the disease progresses.
Increased IgG production by the central nervous system is not specific for multiple sclerosis, but is an indication of chronic neural inflammation. Oligoclonal bands in CSF have been reported in cases of neurosyphilis, acute bacterial or viral meningitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, progressive rubella panencephalitis, polyneuritis, optic neuritis, trypanosomiasis, and other infectious or autoimmune diseases.
The oligoclonal band pattern is blurred when a concomitant inflammatory response causes increased protein leakage of plasma proteins into the CSF. If the CSF protein concentration is >200 mg/dL, even high immunoglobulin production in the central nervous system can be obscured by the presence of plasma proteins.
Since 80% of normal CSF protein is derived from serum, patients with serum monoclonal proteins may also have corresponding CSF bands. In addition, serum oligoclonal bands are present in some patients with Hodgkin's disease and in up to 5% of normal individuals. Therefore, CSF electrophoretic patterns cannot be interpreted without corresponding serum patterns.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, collected at the same time
Volume
0.5 mL cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 0.5 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.1 mL CSF and 0.1 mL serum
Container
Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube and plastic (CSF) tube
Collection Instructions
Spinal tap and venipuncture.
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 14 days |
Refrigerated | 14 days |
Frozen | 6 months |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Stable x3 |
Reference Range
None found; four or more CSF-specific bands have been shown to be most consistent with MS.
Storage Instructions
Room temperature
Patient Preparation
Spinal tap
Causes for Rejection
Plasma instead of serum specimen (since fibrinogen band may obscure the β−γ electrophoretic zone); serum and CSF not collected within eight hours of each other
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019216 | Oligoclonal Banding, Serum+CSF | 111237 | Oligoclonal Bands | N/A | ||
| 019216 | Oligoclonal Banding, Serum+CSF | 111666 | Oligoclonal Bands | 48668-8 | ||
| Order Code | 019216 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Oligoclonal Banding, Serum+CSF | |||||
| Order Loinc | ||||||
| Result Code | 111237 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Oligoclonal Bands | |||||
| UofM | ||||||
| Result LOINC | N/A | |||||
| Order Code | 019216 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Oligoclonal Banding, Serum+CSF | |||||
| Order Loinc | ||||||
| Result Code | 111666 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Oligoclonal Bands | |||||
| UofM | ||||||
| Result LOINC | 48668-8 |