B cell blood tests

[Raglet]

I emailed my rheumie to get a new form for my B cell tests. She emailed back that she was overseas, but she had her registrar send me a new form (I seem to have lost my previous form).

I think the form I have received in the post is wrong - it says to test serum immunoglobulin.

Well, the last form I had had a bunch of stuff on it - can't remember exactly, but am pretty sure it was CD19 & 20, plus a variety of other stuff (including my regular lupus markers - anti-ds-dna etc etc).

So, now I am not sure whether to have this test done or not. I am thinking probably the best thing to do is go have this test done, then wait a couple of weeks then email my rheumie (who will likely be back by then) and get her to send me another form if it turns out to be the wrong one.

what do you think ?

cheers

raglet
just noticed that it is also on the wrong form - the previous one was on a hospital lab form, this one is on a local neighbourhood form, which means that I can go to my local lab for the test. To have my b cells tested, I was having to go into the hospital lab, which is a pain, but the tests can't be done in local labs. Which I guess is more evidence that it is the wrong tests. But, it is real easy for me to go up to the local lab and have a test done, takes me 10 minutes, so I guess I might as well do it incase it is the right one (though I doubt it)

[Clare.T]

Hi Raglet

I'd say that requisition is incomplete, as far as I can see from my googlings and your recollection is right. You'd think they have copies in your file to go from ?

Maybe one of the Rituxan Girls can tell you what followup tests they have done

http://www.labcorp.com/datasets/labcorp/html/chapter/mono/ci007600.htm



B Cell Monitor Profile

.....................

Percentage and absolute values for CD5+, CD5+CD19+, CD19+, CD20+




http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSCULAR/antibody/rituxan.htm



Follow-up testing: Blood is drawn every 2 to 3 months for

CBC and electrolytes, glucose, and creatinine (BMP)
Antibody titers: IgM vs GM1 & GalNAc-GD1a ganglioside, or MAG
.............. [contact details deleted CT]........................
Save serum specimen for comparison with post treatment samples
Immunocompetency panel: Send for CD3, CD19
Quantitative immunoglobulins



I googled CD19 B Cell Tests Rituxan most of the references aren't accessible.

I guess what you do depends on the urgency, when your next appointment is and how long it takes for test results to come through

Cheers
Clare

[Zoi]

Raglet

I had testing done for B cell levels last week. Tests ordered were:

CD4, CD8, CD19/20, CD56, CD16 and immunoglobulins A, M and G (IgA, IgM, IgG)

B lymphocytes are CD19!

Also if your B levels are low then your immunoglobulins, especially IgG, may also be low!

The CD something tests were labelled lymphocyte immunophenotype, but I can't find much online about that!

Maybe you can phone up the lab close to home and ask if indeed you can have the tests ordered there?

I'd do the tests anyway if I were you, as they sound like the right ones! If they turn out to be wrong you can re-do them when your rheumy gets back!

Hope you're doing ok!

Zoi

[Raglet]

my B cells are on the way back, well and truely, so I would doubt that my immuno-whatsits would be low. I had rituxan one year ago. I think it is going to be a give it a couple of weeks and email my rheumie again so she herself can send me the correct form. It occurs to me that I can find out from my gp what are the correct tests, as he gets copies of the results. So maybe emailing him in the mean time is the best thing to do.

These are just my regular b cell level monitoring tests so they are not frantically urgent, they can wait a while

cheers

raglet

[MILLMILL81]

Hi Raglet:) :)
I have theses tests done B cell in my Bone marrow biobsy for my myeloma I have high IgG

MILL:)