Evaluation of patients with suspected paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome such as encephalomyelitis

Red serum vial/tube, 5 mL

1. Allow specimen to clot
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
3. Transfer serum to a Transfer vial/tube with cap - 12mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum

Transfer vial/tube with cap - 12mL (LabCorp)

Ambient (preferred) - 14 days

Refrigerated - 14 days

Frozen - 14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles - stable x 3

• Gross hemolysis
• Gross lipemia

Immunofluorescence (IFA)

Negative

Antibodies to Hu, Ri and Yo antigens are present in patients with paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome such as encephalomyelitis. Hu antibodies are frequently associated with small cell lung cancer and neuroblastoma. Hu antibodies are rarely associated with non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer or seminoma. the paraneoplastic syndrome associated with the presence of antibodies to Ri includes symptoms such as opsocionus, ataxia, nystagmus, dizziness and dysarthria. Antibodies to Yo are associated with cerebellar degeneration as well as with small lung cancer, gynecologic and breast cancer.