Oligoclonal Banding Panel, CSF & Serum (Referred Out) - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Description
Ordering recommendation
- Both serum and CSF specimens are required. Serum sample MUST BE collected within 1 week of CSF collection.
- Please call clinical biochemist on-call if you need assistance.
Alias
- Oligoclonal bands
- CSF protein electrophoresis
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) & Serum
Specimen collection container
CSF
- Preferred collection container: CSF – Sterile screw top tubes supplied in Lumbar Puncture Kit
Serum:
- Preferred collection container: Red (clot activator) 4.0 mL
- Acceptable: Gold (gel) tube 5.0 mL
Required volume
CSF
- Minimum volume: 1.0 mL
Serum
- Minimum volume: 1.0 mL
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
Transport and stability
CSF/Serum
- Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Room Temp: 1 day; Frozen: 6 months
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and rejection Criteria
Performance
Methodology
- Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) & Immunofixation
Days/times performed
| Availability |
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| Testing site |
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Maximum laboratory time
Results reporting
- 10 day turnaround time by testing laboratory
Other information
Additional comments
- Oligoclonal Banding, IgG Index, Albumin Index, IgG/Albumin Ratio, number of CSF-specific bands and the number of serum and CSF matched bands are used to aid in the assessment and diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
Last Updated: January 9, 2026