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Test ID SM Sm Antibodies, IgG, Serum


Specimen Required


Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL


Useful For

Evaluating patients with signs and symptoms of a connective tissue disease in whom the test for antinuclear antibodies is positive

 

Testing for Sm antibodies is not useful in patients without demonstrable antinuclear antibodies.

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Connective Tissue Disease Cascade.

Special Instructions

Method Name

Multiplex Flow Immunoassay

Reporting Name

Sm Ab, IgG, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.35 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 21 days
  Frozen  21 days

Clinical Information

Sm (Smith) is a small nuclear ribonucleoprotein composed of several protein autoantigens designated B, B1, D, E, F, and G, which range in size from 11 kD to 26 kD. Sm antibodies are specific for lupus erythematosus (LE) and occur in approximately 30% of LE patients. The levels of Sm antibodies remain relatively constant over time in patients with LE and are usually found in patients that also have RNP (ribonucleoprotein) antibodies.(1,2)

 

Sm is 1 of 4 autoantigens commonly referred to as extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). The other ENA are RNP, SS-A/Ro, and SS-B/La. Each ENA is composed of 1 or more proteins associated with small nuclear RNA species (snRNA) ranging in size from 80 to approximately 350 nucleotides. Antibodies to ENA are common in patients with connective tissue diseases (systemic rheumatic diseases) including LE, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), and polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

 

For more information see Connective Tissue Disease Cascade.

Reference Values

<1.0 U (negative)

≥1.0 U (positive)

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation

A positive result for anti-Sm antibodies is consistent with a diagnosis of lupus erythematosus.

Clinical Reference

1. Homburger H, Larsen S: Detection of specific antibodies. In Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice. First edition. Edited by R Rich, T Fleisher, B Schwartz, et al. St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book, 1996, pp 2096-2109

2. Kotzin B, West S: Systemic lupus erythematosus. In Clinical Immunology Principles and Practice. Second edition. Edited by R Rich, T Fleisher, W Shearer, et al. St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book, 2001, pp 60.1-60.24

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86235

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SM Sm Ab, IgG, S 18323-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
SM Sm Ab, IgG, S 18323-6