Eosinophils are immune-system cells that, when activated, can play a role in a variety of diseases. In this test specific episode of the "Answers From the Lab" podcast, Melissa Snyder, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' novel EDN panel goes beyond existing tests to provide relevant information for managing asthma and certain digestive diseases.

Standard testing quantifies eosinophils in blood — but can't determine if those immune cells have been activated and are releasing disease-related neurotoxins. The laboratories' EDN test does exactly that.

"This is the first time we'll have a marker of activation of eosinophils. It's a better way to evaluate patients," Dr. Snyder says. "EDN will be useful for managing treatment and assessing disease activity when there's a suspicion of an eosinophilic component to a patient's disease."

Listen to learn more about Mayo Clinic Laboratories' novel EDN panel.

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Testing

EDN | Eosinophil Derived Neurotoxin, Serum

Useful information

• Evaluating patients suspected to have a condition associated with eosinophilia or hypereosinophilia

• Evaluating patients with elevated peripheral blood eosinophil counts.

• Managing patients with elevated eosinophil-derived neurotoxin in the context of eosinophil-associated diseases.

Specimen requirements

• Specimen type: Serum
• Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
• Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
• Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL

Preferred: 

• Serum gel

Acceptable: 

• Red top

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 12 hours of collection. Serum cannot sit on either gel or cells for longer than 12 hours.

Performance information

Analytic time: 2 to 8 days

Days performed: Tuesday

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