Assay

NMDA receptor antibodies (N-methyl-1-D-aspartate receptor antibodies)

Key Words

NMDA receptor abs, NMDA 

Specimen Collection

Serum (Brown) and or CSF

Turnaround time

7 days

This test is referred to another centre:

Churchill Hospital

Old Road

Headington

Oxford

OX3 7LE

0300 304 7777

Test indications

These rare antibodies are found in cases of limbic encephalitis, encephalitis, epilepsy partialis continua and ataxia. It is though that these antibodies may play a role in the autoimmune pathogenesis of these syndromes. They are targeted against the NMDA receptor which is expressed on neuronal cell surfaces. As a paraneoplastic occurrence they are associated with both ovarian and mediastinal teratomas - both of which upregulate and express the NMDA receptor. Most patients have antibodies to NR1/NR2 heteromers of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA).

Methodology

Contact referral laboratory

Interferences

Contact referral laboratory

Reference Range

Contact referral laboratory

Analytical error

Contact referral laboratory

Reference change value

 N/A