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Test ID IABCS B-Cell Phenotyping Profile for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment, Blood

Useful For

Screening for common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and hyper-IgM syndromes

 

Assessing B-cell subset reconstitution after stem cell or bone marrow transplant

 

Assessing response to B-cell-depleting immunotherapy

 

Identifying defects in transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML) interactor (TACI) and B-cell-activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) in patients presenting with clinical symptoms and other laboratory features consistent with CVID

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
TBBS T- and B-Cell QN by Flow Cytometry Yes No
IABC Immune Assessment B Cell Subsets, B No Yes

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
CVID CVID Confirmation Flow Panel Yes No

Testing Algorithm

If immune assessment B-cell subsets test is abnormal, then confirmation will be performed at an additional charge.

 

When multiple specimen types are required to perform a panel of tests, the laboratory will perform the tests for which the appropriate specimen type was received and the laboratory will cancel those for which the appropriate specimen was not received. Please be advised that this may change the degree of interpretation received with the report. If only the refrigerate EDTA sample is received, this test will be canceled and converted to RBCS / Relative B-Cell Subset Analysis Percentage which provides the relative B-cell subset values without quantitation.

Method Name

TBBS: Flow Cytometry

IABC: Fluorescent Flow Cytometry

Reporting Name

Immune Assessment B Cell Subsets, B

Specimen Type

Whole Blood EDTA

Specimens are required to be received in the laboratory weekdays and by 4 p.m. on Friday. It is recommended that specimens arrive within 24 hours of draw. Specimens arriving on the weekend may be canceled. Draw and package specimen as close to shipping time as possible.

 

For serial monitoring, we recommend that specimen draws be performed at the same time of day.

 

Two separate EDTA specimens are required: 1 refrigerated and 1 at ambient transport temperature.

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood for TBBS / T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry

Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 4 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Send specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

2. Label specimen as blood for TBBS / T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry.

Additional Information: Date of draw is required.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient <52 hours

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood for IABC / B-Cell Phenotyping Screen for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment, Blood

Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume:

≤14 years: 4 mL

>14 years: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Send specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

2. Label specimen as blood for IABC / B-Cell Phenotyping Screen for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment, Blood.

Additional Information: Ordering physician's name and phone number are required.

Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated <48 hours

Specimen Minimum Volume

TBBS / T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry: 1 mL; IABC / B-Cell Phenotyping Screen for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment: ≤14 years: 3 mL; >14 years: 5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood EDTA Varies 48 hours

Clinical Information

T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry:

Normal immunity requires a balance between the activities of various lymphocyte subpopulations with different effector and regulatory functions.

 

Different immune cells can be characterized by unique surface membrane antigens described by a cluster of differentiation nomenclature (eg, CD3 is an antigen found on the surface of T lymphocytes). Abnormalities in the number and percent of T (CD3), T-helper (CD4), T-suppressor (CD8), B (CD19), and natural killer (CD16+CD56) lymphocytes have been described in a number of different diseases. In patients who are infected with HIV, the CD4 count is measured for AIDS diagnosis and for initiation of antiviral therapy. The progressive loss of CD4 T lymphocytes in patients infected with HIV is associated with increased infections and complications.

 

The United States Public Health Service has recommended that all HIV-positive patients be tested every 3 to 6 months for the level of CD4 T lymphocytes.

 

The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets are known to be influenced by a variety of biological factors, including hormones, the environment, and temperature. The studies on diurnal (circadian) variation in lymphocyte counts have demonstrated progressive increase in CD4 T-cell count throughout the day, while CD8 T cells and CD19+ B cells increase between 8:30 a.m. and noon, with no change between noon and afternoon. Natural killer (NK) cell counts, on the other hand, are constant throughout the day.(1) Circadian variations in circulating T-cell counts have been shown to be negatively correlated with plasma cortisol concentration.(2-4) In fact, cortisol and catecholamine concentrations control distribution and, therefore, numbers of naive versus effector CD4 and CD8 T cells.(2) It is generally accepted that lower CD4 T-cell counts are seen in the morning compared with the evening,(5) and during summer compared to winter.(6) These data, therefore, indicate that timing and consistency in timing of blood collection is critical when serially monitoring patients for lymphocyte subsets.

 

Immune Assessment B Cell Subsets, Blood:

The adaptive immune response includes both cell-mediated (mediated by T cells and natural killer [NK] cells) and humoral immunity (mediated by B cells). After antigen recognition and maturation in secondary lymphoid organs, some antigen-specific B cells terminally differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells or become memory B cells. Memory B cells are 3 subsets: marginal zone B cells (MZ or nonswitched memory), class-switched memory B cells, and IgM-only memory B cells. Decreased B-cell numbers, B-cell function, or both, result in immune deficiency states and increased susceptibility to infections. These decreases may be either primary (genetic) or secondary. Secondary causes include medications, malignancies, infections, and autoimmune disorders.

 

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a disorder of B-cell function, is the most prevalent primary immunodeficiency with a prevalence of 1 to 25,000 to 1 to 50,000.(1) CVID has a bimodal presentation with a subset of patients presenting in early childhood and a second set presenting between 15 and 40 years of age, or occasionally even later. Four different genetic defects have been associated with CVID including mutations in the ICOS, CD19, BAFF-R, and TACI genes. The first 3 genetic defects account for approximately 1% to 2%, and TACI mutations account for 8% to 15% of CVID cases.

 

CVID is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia usually involving most or all of the Ig classes (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE), impaired functional antibody responses, and recurrent sinopulmonary infections.(1,2) B-cell numbers may be normal or decreased. A minority of CVID patients (5%-10%) have very low B-cell counts (<1% of peripheral blood leukocytes), while another subset (5%-10%) exhibit noncaseating, sarcoid-like granulomas in different organs and also tend to develop a progressive T-cell deficiency.(1) Of all patients with CVID, 25% to 30% have increased numbers of CD8 T cells and a reduced CD4 to CD8 ratio (<1). Studies have shown the clinical relevance of classifying CVID patients by assessing B-cell subsets, since changes in different B-cell subsets are associated with particular clinical phenotypes or presentations.(3,4)

 

The B-cell phenotyping assay can be used in the diagnosis of hyper-IgM syndromes, which are characterized by increased or normal levels of IgM with low IgG and/or IgA.(5) Patients with hyper-IgM syndromes can have 1 of 5 known genetic defects--mutations in the CD40L, CD40, AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), UNG (uracil DNA glycosylase), and NEMO (NF-kappa B essential modulator) genes.(5) Mutations in CD40L and NEMO are inherited in an X-linked fashion, while mutations in the other 3 genes are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. Patients with hyper-IgM syndromes have a defect in isotype class-switching, which leads to a decrease in class-switched memory B cells, with or without an increased in nonswitched memory B cells and IgM-only memory B cells.

 

In addition to its utility in the diagnosis of the above-described primary immunodeficiencies, B-cell phenotyping may be used to assess reconstitution of B-cell subsets after hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplant. This test is also used to monitor B-cell-depicting therapies, such as Rituxan (Rituximab) and Zevalin (Ibritumomab tiuxetan).

 

CVID Confirmation Flow Panel:

The etiology of CVID is heterogeneous, but recently 4 genetic defects were described that are associated with the CVID phenotype. Specific mutations, all of which are expressed on B cells, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CVID.

 

These mutations encode for:

-ICOS-inducible costimulator expressed on activated T cells(1)

-TACI-transmembrane activator and CAML (calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand) interactor(2)

-CD19(3)

-BAFF-R-B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family(4)

 

Of these, the TACI mutations probably account for about 10% of all CVID cases.(2) Patients with mutations in the TACI gene are particularly prone to developing autoimmune disease, including cytopenias as well as lymphoproliferative disease. The other mutations each have been reported in only a handful of patients. The etiopathogenesis is still undefined in more than 50% of CVID patients.

 

A BAFF-R defect should be suspected in patients with low to very low class switched and nonswitched memory B cells and very high numbers of transitional B cells (see IABC/87994 B-Cell Phenotyping Screen for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment, Blood). Class switching is the process that allows B cells, which possess IgD and IgM on their cell surface as a part of the antigen-binding complex, to produce IgA, IgE, or IgG antibodies. A TACI defect is suspected in patients with low IgM with normal to low switched B cells, with autoimmune and/or lymphoproliferative manifestations, and normal B cell responses to mitogens.

 

The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets are known to be influenced by a variety of biological factors, including hormones, the environment, and temperature. The studies on diurnal (circadian) variation in lymphocyte counts have demonstrated progressive increase in CD4 T-cell count throughout the day, while CD8 T cells and CD19+ B cells increase between 8:30 a.m. and noon, with no change between noon and afternoon. Natural killer (NK) cell counts, on the other hand, are constant throughout the day.(5) Circadian variations in circulating T-cell counts have been shown to be negatively correlated with plasma cortisol concentration.(6-8) In fact, cortisol and catecholamine concentrations control distribution and, therefore, numbers of naive versus effector CD4 and CD8 T cells.(6) It is generally accepted that lower CD4 T-cell counts are seen in the morning compared with the evening,(9) and during summer compared to winter.(10) These data, therefore, indicate that timing and consistency in timing of blood collection is critical when serially monitoring patients for lymphocyte subsets.

Reference Values

The appropriate age-related reference values will be provided on the report.

Cautions

This assay and the reference range reported are based on analysis of B cells derived from the mononuclear cell fraction of peripheral whole blood and, therefore, results may not be identical to those performed on whole blood (eg, TBBS / T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry).

 

This test is a screening test and further analyses will be required to complete a diagnostic workup for common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) (eg, CVID / Common Variable Immunodeficiency Confirmation Flow Panel; TACIF / Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor [TACI] Gene, Full Gene Analysis) and hyper-IgM (XHIM / X-Linked Hyper IgM Syndrome, Blood and CD40 / B-Cell CD40 Expression by Flow Cytometry, Blood for CD40 ligand and CD40 expression, respectively).

 

This test is not indicated for the evaluation of lymphoproliferative disorders (eg, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma).

 

Timing and consistency in timing of blood collection is critical when serially monitoring patients for lymphocyte subsets. See data under Clinical Information.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Specimens are required to be received in the laboratory on weekdays and by 4 p.m. on Friday. No weekend processing.

Report Available

3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Medical Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

See Individual Test IDs

CPT Code Information

T- and B-Cell Quantitation by Flow Cytometry

86355-B cells, total count

86357-Natural killer (NK) cells, total count

86359-T cells, total count

86360-Absolute CD4/CD8 count with ratio

 

B-Cell Phenotyping Screen for Immunodeficiency and Immune Competence Assessment, Blood

88184-Flow cytometry, first marker

88185 x 7-Flow cytometry, each additional marker

 

Common Variable Immunodeficiency Confirmation Flow Panel

88184-Flow cytometry, first marker (if appropriate)

88185 x 2-Flow cytometry, each additional marker (if appropriate)

NY State Approved

Yes