Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies
This is a highly sensitive and specific marker for Myasthenia Gravis (80-90% sensitivity). Patients present with muscle weakness and fatigue that may affect ocular muscles. Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease where antibodies bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction - this impairs the ability of acetylcholine to induce muscular contraction.
| Tube | Serum Gel |
|---|---|
| ID | 12746 |
| Availability | Weekdays |
| Additional Information | The 10% of MG patients with Thymoma are also positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Aroung 15% MG patients are negative for Acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Antibodies to muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase may be found in AChR Ab negative MG patients. |
| Turn Around | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx for TAT, allowing an additional 10 working days for sample processing and reporting. |
| Send to | Samples should be sent to the department of Clinical Immunology at LGI who will refer to appropriate referral lab (Oxford) |
| Contact | https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/pathology/specialist-laboratory-medicine-slm/immunology-laboratory/ |
| Advice | https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/pathology/specialist-laboratory-medicine-slm/immunology-laboratory/ |
| Collection Con | No restrictions. Not available on CSF or plasma sample |
| Frequency | Referred to external laboratory |
| Sample REQ | Blood |
| Ref. Range Notes | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx |
| Units | x100pM |
| IP Acute TAT | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx |
| IP Routine TAT | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx |
| GP Acute TAT | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx |
| GP Routine TAT | See https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/immunology/diagnostic-tests/tests-catalogue/acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies.aspx |
| Telepath | ACR2R |
| ICE Codes | IACR |
