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Your CSF test shows a strong presence of oligoclonal bands (more than 12), which is significant since having 4 or more bands is considered positive for MS. These bands are proteins that indicate inflammation in your central nervous system. Finding oligoclonal bands in the CSF but not in blood serum is particularly important Show Full Answer

Your CSF test shows a strong presence of oligoclonal bands (more than 12), which is significant since having 4 or more bands is considered positive for MS. These bands are proteins that indicate inflammation in your central nervous system. Finding oligoclonal bands in the CSF but not in blood serum is particularly important for MS diagnosis. This finding is very supportive of an MS diagnosis, as oligoclonal bands are found in over 95% of people with MS. However, your healthcare provider will need to consider these results alongside other diagnostic criteria, like MRI findings showing lesions, to confirm the diagnosis. The 2017 McDonald criteria for MS diagnosis places significant weight on the presence of these oligoclonal bands in making a diagnosis.

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