Test ID SMAS Smooth Muscle Antibody Screen, Serum
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Specimen Volume: 0.8 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
-General Request (T239)
Secondary ID
609515Useful For
Evaluating patients with chronic liver disease in whom the diagnosis of chronic active autoimmune hepatitis is suspected
Reflex Tests
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
SMAT | Smooth Muscle Ab Titer, S | No | No |
Testing Algorithm
If smooth muscle antibody (SMA) screen is positive then the SMA titer will be performed at an additional charge.
Method Name
Indirect Immunofluorescence
Reporting Name
Smooth Muscle Ab Screen, SSpecimen Type
SerumSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.4 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 21 days | |
Frozen | 21 days |
Clinical Information
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is caused by chronic inflammation within the liver, resulting in damage to the hepatocytes.(1) Initially, patients with AIH may be clinically asymptomatic, usually identified only through an incidental finding of abnormal liver function tests. At a more advanced stage, patients may manifest with symptoms such as jaundice, pruritus, or ascites, which are secondary to the more extensive liver damage. As implied by the name, AIH has many characteristics of an autoimmune disease, including female predominance, hypergammaglobulinemia, association with specific HLA alleles, responsiveness to immunosuppression, and the presence of autoantibodies. There are several autoantibodies associated with AIH, although the most common are smooth muscle antibodies (SMA). SMA are generally identified by indirect immunofluorescence using a smooth muscle substrate. The antigen specificity of SMA in the context of AIH has been identified as filamentous-actin (F-actin).(2) Because the clinical symptoms of AIH are nonspecific, being found in a variety of liver diseases (drug/alcohol-associated hepatitis, viral hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc), the diagnosis can be challenging. A set of diagnostic criteria for AIH has been published and includes the presence of various autoantibodies, elevated total IgG, evidence of hepatitis on liver histology, and absence of viral markers.(3) The combination of autoantibody serology, specifically SMA and anti-F-actin antibodies with liver histology and thorough clinical evaluation are useful in the evaluation of patients with suspected autoimmune hepatitis.
Reference Values
Negative
Reference values apply to all ages.
Cautions
Serologic tests for autoantibodies, including smooth muscle antibodies (SMA), should not be relied upon exclusively to determine the etiology or prognosis of patients with liver disease.
A positive result for SMA may occur in patients who do not have autoimmune hepatitis. A negative result does not exclude a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Report Available
2 to 4 daysPerforming Laboratory

Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
86015