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Test ID SSB SS-B/La Antibodies, IgG, Serum

Reporting Name

SS-B/La Ab, IgG, S

Useful For

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

 

Testing for SS-B/La antibodies is not useful in patients without demonstrable antinuclear antibodies.

Testing Algorithm

See Connective Tissue Disease Cascade (CTDC) in Special Instructions.

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.35 mL

Specimen Stability Information

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

Reference Values

<1.0 U (negative)

≥1.0 U (positive)

Reference values apply to all ages.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday; 4 p.m.

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved or is exempt by the U.S. 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
SSB SS-B/La Ab, IgG, S 33613-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
SSB SS-B/La Ab, IgG, S 33613-1

Clinical Information

SS-B/La is an extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) composed of a 48-kD protein combined with RNA species. SS-B/La antibodies are found primarily in patients with Sjogren syndrome or lupus erythematosus (LE), where they occur with frequencies of approximately 60% and 15%, respectively.(1,2) SS-B/La antibodies occur only infrequently in the absence of SS-A/Ro antibodies.

 

SS-B/La is 1 of 4 autoantigens commonly referred to as extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). The other ENA are SS-A/Ro, RNP, and Sm (Smith). Each ENA is composed of 1 or more proteins associated with cytoplasmic or small nuclear RNA species (snRNA) ranging in size from 80 to 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.

 

See Connective Tissue Disease Cascade (CTDC) in Special Instructions.

Interpretation

A positive result for SS-B/La antibodies is consistent with connective tissue disease, including Sjogren syndrome and 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

Analytic Time

1 day

Method Name

Multiplex Flow Immunoassay