HLA B27 Disease Association

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Turnaround Time: 3-7 days
CPT Code:

81374

Test Type: Adult tube, Whole blood
Reference Range:

The generic sequence coding for HLA-B27 is probed and reported as either P (positive) if it is present or N (negative) if it is absent.

Overview:

Evaluate spondyloarthritis and other disorders associated with HLA-B27.

Regarding whole blood specimens, an adequate test requires the presence of intact lymphocytes at the time of testing. Even taking appropriate precautions, an occasional specimen will not be satisfactory for testing. In such cases, fresh blood should be drawn for retesting.

This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined, by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

HLA-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (Marie-Strumpell disease). HLA-B27 shares homology with a Klebsiella protein and may imply a bacterial pathogenesis to ankylosing spondylitis. A patient with consistent clinical and radiographic findings who is B27-positive has a greater chance of having or developing ankylosing spondylitis than a negative patient. The antigen is not causative, however, and 10% of normal subjects are B27-positive. This test should not be considered a screening procedure for ankylosing spondylitis. The antigen is less strongly associated with Reiter syndrome and other arthritides than with ankylosing spondylitis. It has been linked with congenital deficiency of C4 and C2, and with adrenal hyperplasia.

Braun WE, Zachary AA. The HLA histocompatibility system in autoimmune states. Clin Lab Med. 1988 Jun; 8(2):351-372. PubMed 3284701

Calin A, Fries JP. Striking prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis in “Healthy” w27 positive males and females. N Engl J Med. 1975 Oct 23; 293(17):835-839. PubMed 126380

Keat A. Reiter's syndrome and reactive arthritis in perspective. N Engl J Med. 1983 Dec 29; 309(26):1606-1615. PubMed 6358890

Khan MA, Khan MK. Diagnostic value of HLA-B27 testing in ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1982 Jan; 96(1):70-76. PubMed 7053711

Lipsky PE, Taurog JD. The Second International Simmons Center Conference on HLA-B27-Related Disorders. Arthritis Rheum. 1991 Nov; 34(11):1476-1482. PubMed 1953825

Yu DT, Choo SY, Schaack T. Molecular mimicry in HLA-B27-related arthritis. Ann Intern Med. 1989 Oct 1; 111(7):581-591. PubMed 2672931

Collection Details:

Collection Instructions:

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube.

Maintain blood specimen at room temperature.