Clinical Laboratory Meets Clinical Care: Challenges With Neural Autoantibody Test Utilization, Interpretation, and Application in Clinical Care

 

Rapidly expanding demand for neural autoantibody testing has come with increased recognition that these antibodies may be associated with immunotherapy-responsive forms of psychiatric disease, dementia, epilepsy, and others. However, the rapid growth of this field as well as the rarity of these disorders has resulted in significant confusion among patient-facing physicians about how to order and interpret these diagnostic tests. In this video lecture, Dr. Smith discusses many of the common challenges with neural autoantibody test utilization, interpretation, and application in clinical care. Clarifying these challenges highlights important opportunities for laboratory professionals to improve the value of this diagnostic testing for patients.

Originally published on October 7, 2024

Lecture Presenter

Tammy Smith, MD, PhD

Tammy Smith, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Division of Neuroimmunology
University of Utah School of Medicine
Clinical Consultant, Autoimmune Neurology
ARUP Laboratories
GRECC Investigator
George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Dr. Tammy Smith is a clinical consultant in autoimmune neurology at ARUP Laboratories, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and a GRECC investigator at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Smith received her medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine as well as a doctorate degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Utah. She completed a residency in neurology at Rush University Medical Center and a fellowship in autoimmune neurology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Smith is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association. Her research interests include autoimmune neurology, paraneoplastic neurologic disease, and immunodeficiency.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize common pitfalls when neural autoantibody testing is ordered
  • Compare testing methods and explain how these impact the interpretation of laboratory results
  • Identify opportunities to improve neural autoantibody test utilization in your own laboratory

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, and ARUP Laboratories