THIS TEST IS USED IN CASES OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. SYMPTOMS CAN INITIALLY BE MILD, BUT CAN LEAD TO RELAPSING OR PROGRESSIVE INCAPACITATING NEUROMOTOR DYSFUNCTION.

ISOFOCUSING IS THE GOLD STANDARD TECHNIQUE WITH GREATEST SENSITIVITY & SPECIFICITY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. OLIGOCLONAL BANDS ARE PRESENT IN 90% OF PATIENTS WITH CLINICALLY DEFINITE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. IDEALLY SERUM AND CSF SHOULD BE TESTED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PRODUCTION OF OLIGOCLONAL BANDS DUE TO PERIPHERAL GAMMOPATHY FROM THAT DUE TO LOCAL PRODUCTION IN THE CNS. OTHER CONDITIONS WHICH SHOW OLIGOCLONAL BANDS ARE SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS, INFLAMMATORY POLYNEUROPATHY, CNS LUPUS AND BRAIN TUMORS.