OCBs or oligoclonal bands

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Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is often done to help in making the diagnosis of MS. It is collected using a procedure called a lumbar puncture of spinal tap. The spinal fluid is analysed to exclude other diagnoses and to see if you have local synthesis of oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands (OCBs). The presence of these bands strongly supports the diagnosis of MS in the correct context; in other contexts it supports other diagnoses, for example infections. MSers with no OCBs do better than MSers with OCBs; in other words the test adds prognostic information.

Type of MS

Clinically-isolated syndrome

Relapsing-remitting

Relapsing secondary progressive

Secondary progressive

Primary progressive

Relapsing progressive MS

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Did you have a lumbar puncture or spinal tap as part of your diagnostic work-up for MS?

Yes

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Do you have OCBs in your spinal fluid?

N/A - I have not had a lumbar puncture

Yes

Not sure - I have not been told the result

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Do you think MSers should be told the result of their spinal fluid or CSF analysis?

Yes

Maybe

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Before reading this blog, or survey, did you know OCBs had prognostic value for MSers?

Yes

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Country of residence

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