Voltage Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC)

Department of Immunology

Notes

• The assay is positive in approximately 85% of patients with the Lambert Eaton myasthenic syndrome, LEMS (with or without small cell lung carcinoma SCLC) and in about 30% of Cerebellar ataxia with SCLC.
• Calcium channel antibodies are rarely found in patients without myasthenic symptoms, except at low titre in a few cases with small cell lung cancer. This is because small cell lung cancers express this voltage gated calcium channel.
• Test performed by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Sample Requirements

Clotted blood. (No patient preparation or special handling required)

Adult

5ml Gold-top SST tube or 3.5ml Rust-top gel tube (Trust users only)

Paediatric

1ml Serum Sample

Turnaround Times

28 days

Time limit for add-on

3 days

Reference Range

Negative = <45pM

Low Positive = 45-100pM