• For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication.
• This test should not be requested in patients who have recently received radioisotopes, therapeutically or diagnostically, because of potential assay interference. The specific waiting period before specimen collection will depend on the isotope administered, the dose given, and the clearance rate in the individual patient. Specimens will be screened for radioactivity prior to analysis. Radioactive specimens received in the laboratory will be held 1 week and assayed if sufficiently decayed, or canceled if radioactivity remains.
• Patient should have no general anesthetic or muscle-relaxant drugs in the previous 24 hours.

Red serum vial/tube, 10 mL

1. Allow sample to clot
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
3. Transfer serum to a Screw cap transfer vial/tube (Mayo T914), labelled as serum

Screw cap transfer vial/tube (Mayo T914)

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Immediately following collection, thoroughly mix sample by gently inverting 5 times

1. Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection

Refrigerated (preferred) - 28 days

Frozen - 28 days

Ambient - 72 hours

• Gross hemolysis
• Gross lipema
• Gross iicterus

Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA), Cell Binding Assay (CBA), Western blot (WB) and Radioimmunoassay (RIA), Immunoblot (IB)

See report

Utilization guidelines for neurologic autoimmune panels