Encephalopathy Autoimmune Evaluation, CSF

Message

For Specimen Integrity during Extreme Weather see the “Lockbox Usage in Extreme Weather” document at the top of this page.

Test Code

ENC2

Alias/See Also

Limbic encephalitis

CPT Codes
86255 x19;86341 x1--84182 AGNBC (if appropriate) 86255 AINCC (if appropriate) 86256 AMPIC (if appropriate) 84182 AMIBC (if appropriate) 84182 AN1BC (if appropriate) 84182 AN2BC (if appropriate) 84182 CRMWC (if appropriate) 86255 DPPCC (if appropriate) 86256 DPPTC (if appropriate) 86256 GABIC (if appropriate) 86255 GFACC (if appropriate) 86256 GFATC (if appropriate) 86255 IG5CC (if appropriate) 86256 IG5TC (if appropriate) 86255 GL1CC (if appropriate) 86256 GL1TC (if appropriate) 86255 NFHCC (if appropriate) 86256 NIFTC (if appropriate) 86255 NFLCC (if appropriate) 86256 NMDIC (if appropriate) 84182 PC1BC (if appropriate) 84182 PCTBC (if appropriate)

Preferred Specimen

4 mL CSF in a sterile container

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

transfer CSF to a sterile container using a sterile pipette

Transport Container

sterile vial

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

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

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus

Methodology
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA),
Cell-Binding Assay (CBA),
Western Blot (WB),
Immunoblot (IB),
Radioimmunoassay (RIA)

Setup Schedule

Monday - Sunday

Report Available

5 - 10 days

Clinical Significance

Evaluating new onset encephalopathy (noninfectious or metabolic) comprising confusional states, psychosis, delirium, memory loss, hallucinations, movement disorders, sensory or motor complaints, seizures, dyssomnias, ataxias, nausea, vomiting, inappropriate antidiuresis, coma, dysautonomias, or hypoventilation in spinal fluid specimens The following accompaniments should increase of suspicion for autoimmune encephalopathy: -Headache -Autoimmune stigmata (personal or family history or signs of diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, vitiligo, poliosis [premature graying], myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus) -History of cancer -Smoking history (20+ pack years) or other cancer risk factors -Inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid (or isolated protein elevation) -Neuroimaging signs suggesting inflammation Evaluating limbic encephalitis (noninfectious) Directing a focused search for cancer Investigating encephalopathy appearing in the course or wake of cancer therapy and not explainable by metastasis or drug effect.

Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905

Last Updated: November 19, 2021

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.