DESCRIPTION: Anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Antibody (ASCA)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (IgG)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (IgA)
Helping clinicians distinguish between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in patients suspected of having inflammatory bowel disease. ASCA is significantly more prevalent in Crohn’s disease than in UC or in healthy individuals. A positive ASCA test is a useful adjunct to other clinical and laboratory findings to establish a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease.
COLLECTION: Full Gold Top SST Tube (use serum collection tube in collection kit)
SPECIMEN STABILITY: Must be received within 24 hrs (Optimal) to 48 hrs of collection.
REJECTION CRITERIA: Hemolyzed, storage beyond temp/time limits, or plasma submitted
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Results reported: NEGATIVE < 20 units, EQUIVOCAL 20.1 - 24.9 units, POSITIVE > 25 units
Antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae are found in approximately 75% of patients with Crohn's disease, 15% of patients with ulcerative colitis, and 5% of the healthy population. High antibody titers increase the likelihood of disease, especially Crohn's disease, and are associated with more aggressive disease. As the inflammation in Crohn's disease is focused at the gut mucosa, most patients have IgA antibodies to S cerevisiae and half of these also have IgG antibodies. A minority of patients have only IgG antibodies to S cerevisiae.
Anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Antibody (ASCA) IgG, IgA - 86671
Sandborn WJ, Loftus EV Jr, Homburger HA, et al: Evaluation of serological disease markers in a population-based cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2001 Aug;7(3):192-201
