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Test ID: Oligoclonal bands (CSF, serum)
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Oligoclonal bands (CSF, serum)
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Oligoclonal bands (CSF, serum)
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Useful For
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The investigation of multiple sclerosis
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Method name and description
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Agarose gel isoelectric focussing and immunofixation
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Clinical information
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Inflammatory neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, can present with multiple monoclonal bands (oligoclonal bands) in the CSF. The presence of these bands is not unique to multiple sclerosis and have been associated with infections, lymphoma, and paraneoplastic disorders.
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Aliases
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OCB
CSF OCB
CSF oligoclonal bands
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Specimen type / Specimen volume / Specimen container
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Specimen type: CSF and Blood samples.
Specimen volume: At least 1 mL of CSF and 1.5 mL of serum.
Specimen container: clean sterile CSF tube container for CSF sample and gel tube (yellow top) or red top tube for blood.
Blood and CSF from the same patient must be collected at the same time according to conventional procedures used in clinical laboratory testing.
It is recommended to carry out analyses on fresh serum and CSF.
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Collection instructions / Special Precautions / Timing of collection
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Blood and CSF from the same patient must be collected at the same time according to conventional procedures used in clinical laboratory testing.
It is recommended to carry out analyses on fresh serum and CSF.
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Relevant clinical information to be provided
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Presenting clinical signs and symptoms
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Storage and transport instructions
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Blood and CSF samples can be transported at ambiant temperature as quickly as possible.
Separated serum samples and CSF samples may be stored for up to 7 days at 2-8°C.
Separated serum samples and CSF samples may be stored for at least one month frozen at -20 °C. The sample should not be thawed till analysis.
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Specimen Rejection Criteria
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Insufficient sample.
Received CSF sample without blood collected at the same time.
Plasma samples.
Grossly hemolyzed serum.
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Biological reference intervals and clinical decision values
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An interpretative comment is provided for the result
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Factors affecting test performance and result interpretation
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Traumatic taps, and systemic inflammatory conditions can result in oligoclonal bands being present in CSF samples.
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Turnaround time / Days and times test performed / Specimen retention time
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Turnaround time: 10 working days.
Days and times test performed: Once in 1-2 weeks.
Specimen retention time: 30 days.
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