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What Is the Tysabri Antibodies Elisa Test?

Tysabri (natalizumab) is a medication prescribed for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who have had difficult responses with other MS treatments, and is prescribed to decrease the number of flare-ups. The Tysabri antibody test is designed to detect the presence of antibodies that the patient may have developed against the Tysabri drug itself.

  1. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

    • MS is a debilitating autoimmune disease that causes damage to the central nervous system, resulting in many different symptoms depending upon the individual and the severity of the disease. Some symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness and vision issues.

    Tysabri

    • Tysabri is a human recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds to all white blood cells except neutrophils, ultimately inhibiting the cells to cross into the inflamed tissue. Due to the increased risk for a brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), Tysabri is only recommended for patients who have had issues with or are not able to take other medications or treatments. There are a number of possible side effects as well, a couple of which include liver damage and allergic reactions.

    ELISA Test Purpose

    • The purpose of the Tysabri antibody ELISA test is to detect antibodies against Tysabri before failure of the drug becomes evident clinically, and therefore is an excellent proactive test for patients currently taking Tysabri.

    ELISA test

    • An ELISA antibody test is a test used in a laboratory to detect the presence of antibodies (proteins that detect foreign substances) that have developed in response to a substance, in this case the substance being the drug Tysabri.

    Test for Antibodies

    • The sample (patient's serum taken from a blood sample) is added to a small well that is coated with Tysabri. If there are any antibodies present in the serum, they will bind to the Tysabri in the well. Other molecules are then added in succession to the well that end with a visible color change that indicates a positive result. If no color change, then the patient does not have antibodies against Tysabri.

    Positive Result

    • If the result is positive, the doctor may recommend alternative treatment as the Tysabri has lost its efficacy in that individual patient.

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