| Category: |
Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
|---|---|
| Test Code: | 152 |
| Disease: | Autoimmune Liver Diseases |
| Methodology: | Indirect Immunofluorescence |
| Substrate: | Mouse Kidney/Stomach/Liver |
| Reference Range: | Negative: <1:10 |
| Units: | Titer |
| Note: | Positive samples at a 1:10 screening dilution are titered to an endpoint at an additional charge. |
| CPT Code: | 86255 |
| Schedule / Turnaround Time: | Assay performed once per week. Report availability is within one week from the time of specimen receipt. |
| Specimen Requirements: |
Specimen need not be refrigerated or frozen. Collect 2-3 ml of blood in a red top or serum separator tube. If possible, separate serum from clot and place into white tube provided with Immco Diagnostics’ collection kits. If separation facilities are not available, the blood can be sent in the tube used for collection. |
| Sample Stability: |
Sample is stable at ambient temperature during shipment. If sample is stored prior to shipment, it is stable refrigerated (2-8˚C) up to five days and frozen (-20˚C or lower) up to one year. |
| Relevance: |
AMA occur in over 90% of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) cases and 3-11% of active chronic hepatitis patients. AMA are absent in patients with extra hepatic biliary obstruction and other liver diseases. The universal presence of AMA in PBC and their virtual absence in extra hepatic jaundice makes their detection of considerable value in differential diagnosis. ASMA in high titer (>160) occur in the majority of cases of chronic hepatitis and in intermediate titers (40-80) in acute viral hepatitis. Occasionally they may occur in cases of PBC where they are also found in intermediate titers. |