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Alternative names Return to top
GBM antibody test; Antibody to human glomerular basement membraneDefinition Return to top
This is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies to glomerular (kidney) basement membrane proteins.How the test is performed Return to top
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
How to prepare for the test Return to top
No special preparation is necessary.How the test will feel Return to top
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Why the test is performed Return to top
This test is used when the presence of antibodies against the glomerular basement membrane (part of the kidney filtering system) is suspected as the cause of kidney disease.
Immunologically-mediated kidney diseases may involve autoantibodies (antibodies against the body's own tissue) directed against kidney antigens; or it may involve immune complexes of autoantibodies (an antibody and antigen combine to form a complex) that become deposited in the filtering system of the kidneys. In the first case, formation of antibodies against the basement membrane of the filtering system results in damage to the basement membrane and kidney failure.
Normal Values Return to top
No presence of antibodies.What abnormal results mean Return to top
What the risks are Return to top
Special considerations Return to top
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Update Date: 8/2/2003 Updated by: Lisa Christopher, M.D., Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |