How to improve the sensitivity and specificity of cell-based assays in detecting autoantibodies in neuroimmune diseases

Autoantibodies are associated with neuroimmune diseases that affect the central and peripheral nervous systems. There are many methods for detecting autoantibodies, among which cell-based assay (CBA) is a relatively novel and important technology that is widely used. CBAs, as novel indirect immunofluorescence assays with known antigen epitopes, have revolutionized the identification of autoantibodies compared with the traditional immunoassays, such as the radioimmunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, as well as the tissue-based assays (TBAs). However, the results of the same sample might exhibit obvious differences between different laboratories, or among repeated testing in the same laboratory, which influence the sensitivity and specificity in the diagnostic performance for a specific neuroimmune disease. In this paper, we review the establishment of CBA technology, and discuss potential interfering factors in CBA methods on its sensitivity and specificity for the autoantibodies associated with neuroimmune diseases.