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Mayo Test ID OLIGC Oligoclonal Banding, Spinal Fluid


Specimen Required


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

-OLIG / Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid

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

 

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Label specimen as spinal fluid.


Useful For

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

Method Name

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

-OLIG / Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid

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

 

Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) with IgG Immunoblot Detection

Reporting Name

CSF Bands

Specimen Type

CSF

Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
CSF Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Ambient  14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

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 the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG index and CSF oligoclonal band (OCB) detection. Abnormal CSF IgG indexes and 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) Cascade, Serum and Spinal Fluid

 

Cerebrospinal fluid Oligoclonal Bands Interpretation: <2 bands

Interpretation

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

 

Cerebrospinal fluid 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.

Clinical Reference

1. Andersson M, Alvarez-Cermeno J, Bernardi G, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: a consensus report. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1994;57(8):897-902

2. Fortini AS, Sanders EL, Weinshenker BG, Katzmann JA. Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Isoelectric focusing with the IgG immunoblotting compared with high resolution agarose gel electrophoresis and cerebrospinal fluid IgG index. Am J Clin Pathol. 2003:120(5):672-675

3. Thompson AJ, Banwell BL, Barkhof F, et al. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(2):162-173

4. Gurtner KM, Shosha E, Bryant SC, et al. CSF free light chain identification of demyelinating disease: comparison with oligoclonal banding and other CSF indexes. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018;56(7):1071-1080

5. Saadeh R, Pittock S, Bryant S, et al. CSF kappa free light chains as a potential quantitative alternative to oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2019;92(15_supplement). doi:10.1212/WNL.92.15_supplement.S37.001

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.(Package insert: SPIFE Touch IgG IEF Procedure. Helena Laboratories. 02/2024)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

4 to 7 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 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
OLIGC CSF Bands 100756-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
8017 CSF Bands 49852-7
23611 CSF Olig Bands Interpretation 100756-6