Epilepsy, Autoimmune/Paraneoplastic Evaluation, Serum

1. For optimal antibody detection, specimen collection is recommended prior to initiation of immunosuppressant medication.
2. This test should not be requested in 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 assay if sufficiently decayed, or canceled if radioactivity remains.
3. Patient should have no general anesthetic or muscle-relaxant drugs in the previous 24 hours.

Red top

Centrifuge, remove serum from cells and send 4.0 mL serum refrigerated in a screw capped plastic vial. Include relevant clinical information and physician name.

Serum: Serum separator tube (SST)

2.5 mL

Refrigerated

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus

Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 28 days
Frozen: 28 days