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Test Directory

Paraneoplastic, Autoantibody Evaluation, Serum

Test Summary

Serological evaluation of patients who present with a subacute neurological disorder of undetermined etiology, especially those with known risk factors for cancer
Directing a focused search for cancer Investigating neurological symptoms that appear in the course of, or after, cancer therapy, and are not explainable by metastasis
Differentiating autoimmune neuropathies from neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy
Monitoring the immune response of seropositive patients in the course of cancer therapy
Detecting early evidence of cancer recurrence in previously seropositive patients

Aliases

  • Paraneoplastic Antibodies, Paraneoplastic Neurological Autoimmunity

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

Utilization Guidance: PAVAL (Paraneoplastic, Autoantibody Evaluation, Serum) is not our recommended test for patients suspected of autoimmune neurological disorders. A comprehensive neurological phenotype-specific autoimmune/paraneoplastic evaluation (e.g. encephalopathy, movement disorders, myelopathy, axonal neuropathy, etc. ) should be considered.

Preferred Specimen

4 mL serum from a red top tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL serum

Instructions

N/A

Patient Preparation

1. For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment.
2. 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.
3. Patient should have no general anesthetic or muscle-relaxant drugs in the previous 24 hours.

Storage

Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

  • Room Temperature: 72 hours
  • Refrigerated: 28 days
  • Frozen: 28 days

Limitations

Negative results do not exclude cancer. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment prior to the serum collection may cause a false-positive result. This evaluation does not include Ma2 autoantibody (alias MaTa). Ma2 autoantibody has been described in patients with brainstem and limbic encephalitis in the context of testicular germ cell neoplasms. Scrotal ultrasound is advisable in men who present with unexplained subacute encephalitis. N-methyl-D-asparate receptor antibodies have been reported in women with paraneoplastic encephalitis related to ovarian teratoma.

Other Acceptable Specimens

Serum from a serum separator tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus

Order Code

PAVAL

EPIC (Premier) Code

LAB6458

Includes

PAINT Interpretive Comments
AMPHS Amphiphysin Ab, S
AGN1S Anti-Glial Nuclear Ab, Type 1
ANN1S Anti-Neuronal Nuclear Ab, Type 1
ANN2S Anti-Neuronal Nuclear Ab, Type 2
ANN3S Anti-Neuronal Nuclear Ab, Type 3
CRMS CRMP-5-IgG, S
VGKC Neuronal (V-G) K+ Channel Ab, S
CCPQ P/Q-Type Calcium Channel Ab
PCABP Purkinje Cell Cytoplasmic Ab Type 1
PCAB2 Purkinje Cell Cytoplasmic Ab Type 2
PCATR Purkinje Cell Cytoplasmic Ab Type Tr

CPT Code

  • 86255x9

Billing Code

  • 650030
  • 650029
  • 650031

CPT Statement

Methodology

Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay, Radioimmunoassay, Cell-Binding Assay

FDA Status

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Physician Attestation of Informed Consent

N/A

Testing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories
200 First Street SW
Rochester MN, 55905

Department

Reference Testing

Reference Range

N/A

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Monday - Sunday; Report available: 10 - 17 days

Specimen Collection

Special Instructions

Utilization Guidance: PAVAL (Paraneoplastic, Autoantibody Evaluation, Serum) is not our recommended test for patients suspected of autoimmune neurological disorders. A comprehensive neurological phenotype-specific autoimmune/paraneoplastic evaluation (e.g. encephalopathy, movement disorders, myelopathy, axonal neuropathy, etc. ) should be considered.

Preferred Specimen

4 mL serum from a red top tube

Minimum Volume

2 mL serum

Instructions

N/A

Patient Preparation

1. For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment.
2. 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.
3. Patient should have no general anesthetic or muscle-relaxant drugs in the previous 24 hours.

Storage

Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

  • Room Temperature: 72 hours
  • Refrigerated: 28 days
  • Frozen: 28 days

Limitations

Negative results do not exclude cancer. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment prior to the serum collection may cause a false-positive result. This evaluation does not include Ma2 autoantibody (alias MaTa). Ma2 autoantibody has been described in patients with brainstem and limbic encephalitis in the context of testicular germ cell neoplasms. Scrotal ultrasound is advisable in men who present with unexplained subacute encephalitis. N-methyl-D-asparate receptor antibodies have been reported in women with paraneoplastic encephalitis related to ovarian teratoma.

Other Acceptable Specimens

Serum from a serum separator tube

Unacceptable Specimens

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus

Billing

CPT Code

  • 86255x9

Billing Code

  • 650030
  • 650029
  • 650031

CPT Statement

Result Information

Methodology

Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay, Radioimmunoassay, Cell-Binding Assay

Testing Laboratory

N/A

Reference Range

N/A

Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time

Monday - Sunday; Report available: 10 - 17 days