Mayo Clinic Laboratories now offers an in-house ELISA assay to test for the presence of antibodies against myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibodies. In this episode of the “Answers From the Lab” podcast, John Mills, Ph.D., discusses how the semi-quantitative, calibrated assay uses unique, human MAG antigen that improves on earlier assays for detection of MAG antibodies. These antibodies are important biomarkers of the rare, hard-to-treat distal acquired demyelinating symmetric neuropathy (DADS). 

Although DADS can theoretically be diagnosed through clinical presentation and nerve conduction studies, those finding are less straightforward in practice, says Dr. Mills. “They are complex and heterogenous, and this partly explains why there tends to be a two- to three-year lag in these patients from the time they present with the neuropathy until they formally are diagnosed with DADs or MAG neuropathy.”

Listen to learn more about how incorporating MAG antibody testing into the diagnostic workup can help guide clinicians to the correct diagnosis earlier, equipping them with confidence about disease presence to guide treatment decisions.

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Testing

MAGES | Myelin Associated Glycoproteins (MAG) Autoantibodies (IgM), Serum

Useful information

Evaluating peripheral neuropathy and paraproteinemic neuropathy.

Specimen requirements

• Container/Tube:
• Preferred: Red top
• Acceptable: Serum gel
• Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Performance information

• Analytic time: 1 day
• Day(s) and time(s) performed: Tuesdays and Fridays from 9AM to 5PM

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