Test: Muscle Specific Kinase Antibodies by Radioimmunoprecipitation (MuSK RIPA)

This test assists in the diagnosis of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG).

Test code:	MuSK RIPA
Abbreviations:	MuSK Ab; MuSK RIPA
Methodology	In-house radioimmunoprecipitation assay
Validation:	Laboratory developed test (LDT)

Specimen type:	Serum
Minimum volume:	0.5 mL
Preferred volume:	3 mL
Rejection criteria:	Grossly hemolytic, lipemic, or icteric. If the sample arrives at room temperature.

Specimen collection:	• No patient preparation required before collection. • 5 mL SST tube (gold-top) • Spin tubes, aliquot serum, and ship on cold-packs same day
Specimen handling:	Centrifuge SST tubes at 1800 - 2200 x g for 10-15 minutes Draw off serum (top layer) into Aliquot tubes with pipette, ensuring not to take gel or RBC (middle/bottom layers) Store Aliquot tubes in refrigerator (2°C - 8°C) until shipping.
Specimen stability:	Serum samples may be stored: Up to 7 days refrigerated (2 – 8⁰C ) -20⁰C for longer term storage – avoid subsequent freeze thaws

Testing frequency:	Once a week (2 day testing procedure)
Turnaround time:	2-8 days
Reference range:	N/A

This test was developed and its performance determined by Neurocode USA Inc. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Please indicate if patients are on immunomodulating treatments as these may interfere with testing.
Causal antibodies cannot be identified in about 10% of MG cases. Therefore, a positive result is specific for the diagnosis of AChR ab myasthenia gravis (MG), but a negative result does not rule out an MG diagnosis.

Muscle Specific Kinase Antibodies by Radioimmunoprecipitation (MuSK RIPA)