title: The need for standardization of antiretinal antibody detection and measurement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on the detection and measurement of antiretinal antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collaborative essay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review and interpretation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is strong evidence to suggest a role for antiretinal antibodies, particularly those targeting recoverin and alpha-enolase, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR). Additionally, numerous other autoantibodies have been described as putative mediators of retinal degeneration and more remain to be discovered. However, assay methods described in the literature by many laboratories for the detection of circulating antiretinal antibodies have been varied and diverse, making it difficult to interpret and compare their results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is currently little standardization of laboratory methods used to detect and monitor antiretinal antibodies. To measure and monitor levels of circulating antiretinal antibodies optimally in patients with AIR, development of standardized assays with stringent internal controls is required. A multicenter collaborative and validation effort is encouraged to reach a consensus on this issue.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forooghian
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Heckenlively
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Héon
authors.forename: Lynn K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hooks
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Detrick
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Nussenblatt
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000592:standards; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000592:standards; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000592:standards*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000276:immunology; D051603:Recoverin / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D051603:Recoverin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase