Test Id : MGMR
Myasthenia Gravis Evaluation with Muscle-Specific Kinase (MuSK) Reflex, Serum
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Diagnosing autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) in adults and children
Distinguishing autoimmune from congenital MG in adults and children or other acquired forms of neuromuscular junction transmission disorders
Establishing a quantitative baseline value that allows comparison with future levels if weakness is worsening
Profile Information
A profile is a group of laboratory tests that are ordered and performed together under a single Mayo Test ID. Profile information lists the test performed, inclusive of the test fee, when a profile is ordered and includes reporting names and individual availability.
Test Id | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
MGMRI | MG with MuSK Interpretation, S | No | Yes |
ARBI | ACh Receptor (Muscle) Binding Ab | Yes | Yes |
Reflex Tests
Lists tests that may or may not be performed, at an additional charge, depending on the result and interpretation of the initial tests.
Test Id | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
ACMFS | AChR Modulating Flow Cytometry, S | No | No |
MUSK | MuSK Autoantibody, S | Yes | No |
Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.
If acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-binding antibodies are greater than 0.02 nmol/L, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If AChR-binding antibodies are 0.02 nmol/L or less, then muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances and AChR muscle modulating antibody is negative, then MuSK autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
ARBI, MUSK: Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
ACMFS: Flow Cytometry
MGMRI: Medical Interpretation
NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Acetylcholine Receptor (Muscle AChR) Antibodies
Ach Receptor Ab
AChR (Acetylcholine Receptor)
AChR Receptor Blocking Ab
Anti-Skeletal Muscle Antibodies
Binding, Blocking, and Modulating Abs
Blocking Ab
Muscle End-Plate Antibodies
MUSK
MuSK myasthenia
Myasthenia Gravis Antibodies
Myasthenia Gravis
Myoid Antibody
Thymoma
Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.
If acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-binding antibodies are greater than 0.02 nmol/L, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If AChR-binding antibodies are 0.02 nmol/L or less, then muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances and AChR muscle modulating antibody is negative, then MuSK autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing
Serum
Ordering Guidance
This test should not be requested for patients who have recently received radioisotopes, therapeutically or diagnostically, because of potential assay interference. The specific waiting period before specimen collection will depend on the isotope administered, the dose given, and the clearance rate in the individual patient. Specimens will be screened for radioactivity prior to analysis. Radioactive specimens received in the laboratory will be held 1 week and assayed if sufficiently decayed or canceled if radioactivity remains.
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing
Patient Preparation: For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication or intravenous immunoglobulin treatment.
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732) with the specimen.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.
2 mL
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
Gross hemolysis | Reject |
Gross lipemia | Reject |
Gross icterus | Reject |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
Ambient | 72 hours | ||
Frozen | 28 days |
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Diagnosing autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) in adults and children
Distinguishing autoimmune from congenital MG in adults and children or other acquired forms of neuromuscular junction transmission disorders
Establishing a quantitative baseline value that allows comparison with future levels if weakness is worsening
Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.
If acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-binding antibodies are greater than 0.02 nmol/L, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If AChR-binding antibodies are 0.02 nmol/L or less, then muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances, then AChR muscle modulating antibody will be performed at an additional charge.
If unable to report AChR binding antibody due to interfering substances and AChR muscle modulating antibody is negative, then MuSK autoantibody will be performed at an additional charge.
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Fatigable weakness due to impaired postsynaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction is characteristic of myasthenia gravis (MG). A clinical diagnosis should be supported by electrodiagnostic testing, ie, clinical-electrodiagnosis (EDX). Positive autoimmune serology increases certainty of MG diagnosis but needs to be interpreted in the proper clinical-EDX context with response to anticholinesterase medications supporting the diagnosis. Most cases are autoimmune and are caused by IgG autoantibodies binding to critical postsynaptic membrane molecules (nicotinic muscle acetylcholine receptor [AChR] or its interacting proteins, such as muscle-specific kinase [MuSK]). Serologically, the detection of AChR binding antibody provides the best diagnostic sensitivity. However, the presence of both AChR binding and modulating activity improves diagnostic accuracy. Autoantibody detection frequency is lowest in patients with weakness confined to extraocular muscles (72% are positive for AChR binding antibodies) and highest in patients with generalized weakness due to MG (92% are positive for AChR binding antibodies). In adults with MG and AChR antibodies, approximately 20% will have thymoma and, very rarely (<1%), extrathymic cancers. Computerized tomography imaging of the chest is considered the standard of care to evaluate for thymoma.
MuSK antibody is detectable in more than one-third of patients with MG who are seronegative for muscle AChR antibodies. MuSK is involved in integrating and stabilizing AChR clusters at the motor endplate. MuSK is activated when the nerve-derived proteoglycan agrin binds to its receptor, lipoprotein-related protein 4 (LRP4). Patients with MuSK MG are more commonly female. Onset can occur at any age (pediatric to older adult). Patients derive less benefit from anticholinesterase medications, and no neoplasm has been associated with MuSK MG. Although beneficial, thymectomy has not been demonstrated to be helpful in MuSK MG. Patients with both AChR and MuSK autoantibodies benefit from immunotherapy, however, patients with MuSK autoantibodies tend to have more steroid dependence.
In patients with seronegative MG, reconsideration of the diagnosis is important. If clinical-EDX criteria are still met, repeating serological testing within one year can increase serological positivity for AChR antibodies by 15%. The diagnostic sensitivity of these tests depends on the disease severity and duration of symptoms. AChR binding antibodies may be undetectable for 6 to 12 months after MG symptom onset. Only about 5% of adult patients with generalized MG who are not immunosuppressed remain seronegative for muscle AChR beyond 12 months. Objective improvement by electrodiagnostic and strength testing following a therapeutic trial of plasmapheresis or intravenous immune globulin can justify consideration of long-term immunosuppression in patients who are seronegative meeting clinical-EDX criteria.
Note: Single antibody tests may be requested in the follow-up of patients with positive results previously documented in this laboratory.
Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Test ID | Reporting Name | Methodology | Reference Value |
MGMRI | MG with MuSK Interpretation, S | Interpretation | NA |
ARBI | ACh Receptor (Muscle) Binding Ab | Radioimmunoassay (RIA) | < or =0.02 nmol/L |
Reflex Information:
Test ID | Reporting Name | Methodology | Reference Value |
ACMFS | AChR Modulating Flow Cytometry, S | Flow Cytometry | Negative |
MUSK | MuSK Autoantibody, S | RIA | < or =0.02 nmol/L |
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Positive results in this antibody evaluation are indicative of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG). These results should be interpreted in the appropriate clinical and electrophysiological context.
In the presence of either acetylcholine receptor antibodies, a paraneoplastic basis should be considered with thymoma being the most frequently associated tumor with myasthenia gravis. Currently, muscle-specific kinase antibody positive MG is not associated with a paraneoplastic etiology.
Negative results do not exclude the diagnosis of an autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorder. If clinical suspicion remains and symptoms persistent or worsen, consider re-testing.
Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
These results should only be interpreted in the appropriate clinical and electrophysiological context and are not diagnostic in isolation.
Specimens should be collected prior to administration of immunosuppressant therapy as this may reduce the diagnostic sensitivity of the assay; the neurological diagnosis is further confounded if steroid myopathy develops.
Positive muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) may occur in autoimmune liver disorders and in patients with graft-versus-host disease and recipients of D-penicillamine.
Weakly positive results may occur with hypergammaglobulinemia and should be interpreted with caution in the appropriate clinical context.
AChR modulating antibodies will only be performed if AChR binding antibodies are present or if there is an interfering substance present that precludes testing for AChR binding antibodies.
Seropositive rates and quantitative results differ across laboratories and patient results tested at different laboratories should not be treated equivalently.
The presence of alpha-bungarotoxin antibodies may interfere with the AChR muscle binding antibody assay and therefore if detected, AChR binding results will not be reported.
Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Li Y, Arora Y, Levin K. Myasthenia gravis: Newer therapies offer sustained improvement. Cleve Clin J Med. 2013;80(11):711-721. doi:10.3949/ccjm.80a.13044
2. Vernino S, Lennon VA. Autoantibody profiles and neurological correlations of thymoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2004;10(21):7270-7275. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-0735
3. Skjei KL, Lennon VA, Kuntz NL. Muscle specific kinase autoimmune myasthenia gravis in children: A case series. Neuromuscul Disord. 2013;23(11):874-882. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2013.07.010
4. Hoch W, McConville J, Helms S, Newsom-Davis J, Melms A, Vincent A. Auto-antibodies to the receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK in patients with myasthenia gravis without acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Nat Med. 2001;7(3):365-368. doi:10.1038/85520
5. Chan KH, Lachance DH, Harper CM, Lennon VA. Frequency of seronegativity in adult-acquired generalized myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve. 2007;36(5):651-658. doi:10.1002/mus.20854
6. Shelly S, Paul P, Bi H, et al. Improving accuracy of myasthenia gravis autoantibody testing by reflex algorithm. Neurology. 2020 1;95(22):e3002-e3011. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000010910
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Radioimmunoassay:
(125)I-labeled recombinant human antigens or labeled receptors are incubated with patient sample. After incubation, anti-human IgG is added to form an immunoprecipitate. The amount of (125)I-labeled antigen in the immunoprecipitate is measured using a gamma-counter. The amount of gamma emission in the precipitate is proportional to the amount of antigen-specific IgG in the sample. Results are reported as units of precipitated antigen (nMol) per L of patient sample.(Griesmann GE, Kryzer TJ, Lennon VA: Autoantibody profiles of myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. In: Rose NR, Hamilton RG, et al. eds. Manual of Clinical and Laboratory Immunology. 6th ed. ASM Press; 2002:1005-1012; Jones AL, Flanagan EP, Pittock SJ, et al: Responses to and outcomes of treatment of autoimmune cerebellar ataxia in adults. JAMA Neurol. 2015;72[11]:1304-1312. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.2378)M
Flow Cytometry:
This method uses flow cytometry to measure the loss of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) molecules expressed on the surface of live cells expressing AChR on the cell surface. The cell line used is an immortalized human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line that expresses endogenous muscle-type nicotinic AChR on its surface. Cells are plated in a 96-well plate and cultured 72 hours prior to the addition of patient sample for an additional 18 to 22 hours to enable internalization of AChR receptors (modulation). Modulation is then stopped by placing cells on ice. The amount of remaining AChRs on the cell surface is measured by flow cytometry. On ice, cells are incubated with a recombinant rat monoclonal antibody against alpha-subunit of the AChR followed by a secondary goat anti-rat IgG antibody conjugated with allophycocyanin (APC). The amount of AChR on the cell surface is proportional to the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of APC. To calculate the amount of modulation (ie, % loss of AChR) the APC MFI is compared between cells treated with patient sample and cells treated with serum lacking AChR modulating antibodies. Background signal is established in each experiment utilizing cells stained with secondary antibody alone (no patient sera). The percent loss of AChR is calculated as 1-([Patient MFI-Background MFI])/([Negative calibrator MFI - Background MFI])*100%.(Unpublished Mayo method)
PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information
Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.
Profile tests: Monday through Sunday; Reflex tests: Varies
Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test
Fees :
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.
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Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.
CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.
86041
86043 (if appropriate)
86366 (if appropriate)
LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
MGMR | MG Evaluation MuSK Reflex, S | 53706-8 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
8338 | ACh Receptor (Muscle) Binding Ab | 97558-1 |
608981 | MG with MuSK Interpretation, S | 69048-7 |
Test Setup Resources
Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.
Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.
SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.
Test Update Resources
Change Type | Effective Date |
---|---|
Test Status - Test Resumed | 2025-03-18 |
Test Status - Test Delay | 2025-02-19 |
Test Status - Test Resumed | 2023-09-06 |
Test Status - Test Down | 2023-08-09 |
Test Status - Test Delay | 2023-07-20 |