Test Code LAB740 Oligoclonal Banding, Serum and Spinal Fluid
Additional Codes
OLIG
Useful For
Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; especially useful in patients with equivocal clinical presentation and radiological findings
Profile Information
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
OLIGS | Serum Bands | No | Yes |
OLIGC | CSF Bands | No | Yes |
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in RochesterSpecimen Type
CSFSerum
Specimen Required
Both serum and spinal fluid are required. Spinal fluid must be obtained within 7 days of serum collection.
Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
2. Label specimen as serum.
Specimen Type: Spinal fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Label specimen as spinal fluid.
On-campus collections: Tube to 99 or deliver to University Extension Hospital Room EH318. Both serum and spinal fluid are required. Send Refrigerated.
Off-campus collections: Centrifuge and aliquot blood within 2 hours. Specimen to be stored/transported Refrigerated.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Serum, Spinal Fluid: 0.4 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
CSF | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
Ambient | 14 days | ||
Frozen | 14 days | ||
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
Ambient | 14 days | ||
Frozen | 14 days |
Reference Values
CSF Oligoclonal Bands Interpretation: <2 bands
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
CPT Code Information
83916 x 2
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
OLIG | Oligoclonal Banding | 100757-4 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
8017 | CSF Bands | 49852-7 |
2783 | Serum Bands | 100755-8 |
23611 | CSF Olig Bands Interpretation | 100756-6 |
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.
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)
Report Available
2 to 4 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysReject Due To
Gross hemolysis | OK |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Gross icterus | OK |
Method Name
Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) with IgG Immunoblot Detection