NMDA Receptor Antibodies

Department

Immunology

Delphic Registration Code

NMDA

Synonyms

Anti-Glutamate Receptor ab.

Turnaround Time

3 weeks

Specimen Type

• Serum
• CSF

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Pottle

Acceptable

• Serum (Red Cap)
• SST II (Gold Cap)

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Pottle

Acceptable

• Serum (Red Cap)
• SST II (Gold Cap)

Additional Specimen Information

NMDA assay will be performed on either serum or CSF, however CSF is the preferred sample. Serum may give an equivocal result if other autoantibodies are present in which case CSF would be required.
4.0mL Red Top, however CSF is preferred

Aliquot Instructions

Reference Intervals

Interpretive comments

Test Method

Indirect immunofluorescence on transfected HEK cell line
Serum screened at 1 in 10 & 1 in 100
CSF screened neat.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$380.57 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

8318

Additional Costing Information

Antibodies (in both serum and CSF) can be low or subthreshold in first samples but rise subsequently. We recommend sending further samples with CSF if the diagnostic suspicion remains high.
NMDAR-antibodies are found in patients with behavioural and cognitive problems and seizures. These can commonly progress over time to a movement disorder autonomic fluctuations and coma.
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) antibodies are neuronal surface-directed antibodies.
Since their discovery in 2007 (Dalmau J etal, Ann Neurol), anti-NMDAR antibodies have been shown to be a frequent cause of a severe but treatable form of immune-mediated encephalitis (Titulaer M et al, Lancet Neurol 2013). Anti-NMDAR encephalitis typically evolves from a viral prodrome to a neuropsychiatric presentation (Irani SR et al, Brain 2010). W
While the disease was originally associated with tumours, typically ovarian teratomas, many patients do not have tumours.
Also known as Anti-Glutamate Receptor antibodies

Contact Information

Enquiry Form