WCN 2023 | Standards for antibody testing in MOGAD

Jodie M. Burton, MD, MSc, FRCPC, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, discusses standards for antibody testing for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and what needs to change. The optimal approach for MOGAD diagnosis involves the use of a live, cell-based antibody assay for MOG, which provides clarity in cases with low titers that could be confused with other diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the challenge lies in the limited availability of labs equipped for live assays. Acknowledging this, new MOGAD criteria allow the use of less sensitive fixed assays when live assays are unavailable. In regions without access to cell-based assays, reliance on ELISA assays poses interpretation challenges. Ongoing research aims to develop cost-effective assays, drawing inspiration from NMOSD’s successful dot and blot assays. This interview took place at the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) 2023 in Montreal, Canada.

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