Neurofascin 155 IgG4 Antibody Test


Test in Focus

Mayo Clinic’s new neurofascin 155 IgG4 antibody (NF155) test is the first commercially available test in the U.S. to use flow cytometry to detect for antibody markers associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). In this "Test in Focus" episode of the "Answers From the Lab" podcast, John Mills, Ph.D., explains how the testing methodology used in the assay enables increased specificity to identify NF155 antibodies and confirm diagnosis of the rare, progressive illness.

“It’s really important for clinicians to recognize that while there may be other tests that they have access to, they may be testing for pan IgG antibodies or even IgM antibodies where there's not nearly the same extent of specificity, nor do they really define that patient group, as well as those with IgG4 antibodies,” Dr. Mills says. “In the case of the neurofascin 155 IgG4 antibody test, it is particularly critical to have a very high clinical specificity assay…in order to make sure that the test has a high positive predictive value.”

Listen to learn more about how NF155 antibody testing can improve outcomes for patients with NF155 IgG4-associated CIDP, who typically present earlier, with more severity, and require more aggressive therapies to treat the condition than classical CIDP patients.

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Testing

Useful information

Evaluating patients with an underlying demyelinating neuropathy

Diagnosis of a neurofascin-155 IgG4 mediated neuropathy

Specimen requirements

  • Container/Tube:
  • Preferred: Red top
  • Acceptable: Serum gel
  • Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Performance information

  • Analytic time: 5 to 8 days
  • Day(s) and time(s) performed: Monday and Friday

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Samantha Rossi

Samantha Rossi is a Digital Marketing Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She supports marketing strategies for product management and specialty testing. Samantha has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2019.