Description of Tests Offered

The Ocular Immunology Laboratory offers several anti-retinal autoantibody tests that support clinical symptoms of Cancer-Associated Retinopathy (CAR), Melanoma-Associated Retinopathy (MAR), Autoimmune Retinopathy, Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and anti-optic nerve autoantibody tests for Autoimmune Optic Neuropathy in serum and fluids. View Requisition Form. 

Ocular Immunology laboratory uses native or recombinant human antigens in immunoblotting procedure to detect specific autoantibodies. This helps eliminate non-specific reactivity, reduces the likelihood of false positives. 

Antigen Panels tested by Immunoblotting

• (CARP) - CAR Panel Includes Recoverin, CAII (carbonic anhydrase II), GAPDH (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), Rab6, Aldolase, Enolase, HSP60 (heat shock protein 62), TULP1 (Tubby-like protein-1) and Immunohistochemistry of the retina 
• (MARP) - MAR Panel Includes Transducin, Arrestin, Recoverin, Aldolase, Enolase, TRPM1, and Immunohistochemistry of the retina for labeling of bipolar cells 
• (ARP) - Autoimmune Retinopathy Panel Includes CAII (carbonic anhydrase II), HSP27 (heat shock protein 27), GAPDH (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), Aldolase, Enolase, Arrestin, Tubulin, PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2) 
• (AMDP) - Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) panel includes CRALBP (cellular-retinaldehyde binding protein), IRBP (interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein);PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2), Aldolase, PRDX (peroxiredoxin) 
• (BEST) - Anti-Best1 AAbs Bestrophin 1 

Extracted Protein Antigens tested by Western blotting 

• (ARW) - Western blot for anti-retinal autoantibodies –recommended in previously tested cases Proteins extracted from the human retina 
• (ONS) –Western blot for anti-optic nerve autoantibodies in the serum Proteins extracted from the human optic nerve 
• (ONCSF) - Western blot for anti-optic nerve autoantibodies in CSF Proteins extracted from the human optic nerve