Ordering Recommendation

Recommended for the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis in patients negative for centromere, Scl-70, or RNA polymerase III antibodies. May predict skeletal muscle involvement and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum separator tube.

Specimen Preparation

Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions

Grossly hemolyzed or severely lipemic.

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year

Methodology

Qualitative Immunoblot

Performed

Tue, Thu, Sat

Reported

1-4 days

Reference Interval

Negative

Interpretive Data

The presence of fibrillarin (U3-RNP) IgG antibodies in association with an ANA IFA nucleolar pattern is suggestive of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In SSc, these antibodies are associated with distinct clinical features, such as younger age at disease onset, frequent internal organ involvement (pulmonary hypertension, myositis and renal disease). Fibrillarin antibodies are detected more frequently in African American patients with SSc compared to other ethnic groups. Strong correlation with ANA IFA results is recommended.

In a multi-ethnic cohort of SSc patients (n=98), U3-RNP antibodies detected by immunoblot had an agreement of 98.9 percent with the gold standard immunoprecipitation (IP) assay. Approximately 71 percent (5/7) of the borderline U3-RNP results with ANA nucleolar pattern in this cohort were IP negative.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86235

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
2012174 Fibrillarin (U3 RNP) Ab, IgG 49963-2
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

Fibrillarin (U3 RNP) Antibody, IgG