Clinical Immunology Laboratory
The Clinical Immunology Laboratory (CIL) of Tan Tock Seng Hospital provides diagnostic tests that are vital for the management of patients with rheumatologic, allergic or immunologic diseases.
We offer the complete range of clinically relevant investigations that are performed accurately and expeditiously. These include autoantibody tests for systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases, various serological tests for syphilis, genotyping for HLA-B27 and HLA-B*5701, total and specific IgE to various aeroallergens and food allergens.
This laboratory service was initiated by clinicians to fulfill a clinical role and this has remained our mission. The range of tests and the way they are reported are designed to aid the clinician in his or her practice. The laboratory is under the charge of a practising Rheumatologist who is available for discussions about the test interpretation.
Quality is very important to us. We subscribe to two external audit programs: the National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) from UK and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Survey from the USA. For tests that are not offered by the CIL, our personnel will help the physician source for an alternate accredited laboratory and arrange the transport of the specimen.
Our laboratory has been accredited by the CAP since 2001.
Our Services
- Diagnostic Autoimmune, Allergy and Immunology Testing
- Autoantibodies in Rheumatology
- Organ-specific Autoantibodies
- Allergen-specific IgE Determinations
- Component resolved diagnostics for allergens
- Syphilis Serology
- Human Leucocyte Antigen B27 (HLA B27)
- Human Leucocyte Antigen genotype testing for drug hypersensitivity syndromes, severe cutaneous adverse reactions
Tests Conducted
The laboratory offers these classes of tests:
- Autoantibody testing, including:
- antinuclear antibody
- anti-CCP
- anti-double stranded DNA antibody
- anti-Ro
- anti-La
- anti cardiolipin
- anti-beta2-glycoprotein1 lgG
- Organ-specific auto-antibodies, such as:
- anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO)
- thyroglobulin antibody
- TSH receptor antibody (TRAB)
- anti-liver and kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM)
- anti-smooth muscle antibody (anti-SMA)
- anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody (anti-GBM)
- anti-islet cell antibody
- Total Immunoglobulin E as well as food-, insect-venom- and environmental-specific immunoglobulin E concentrations specialised immunology tests:
- serum tryptase level
- immunoglobulin G subclasses and nitroblue tetrazolium test
- anti-endomysial
- anti-tissue transglutaminase and anti-gliadin peptides tests for coeliac disease
- Tetanus Toxoid IgG antibody & Streptococcus pneumoniae IgG antibodies
Immunology Research Laboratory
The Immunology Research Laboratory (IRL) was restructured from the department's Autoimmune Research Laboratory (ARL). The ARL was set up by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in 1994 for the purpose of research in autoimmune systemic rheumatic diseases.
In 1999, the ARL was restructured into the Clinical Immunology Laboratory (CIL) which supports the clinical services of the department and hospital, and the Immunology Research Laboratory (IRL) which supports the department's research in rheumatology, clinical immunology and allergy.
The IRL is presently funded through research grants. Our main research interests are in SLE, rheumatoid arthritis and drug allergy.