Researchers at the Mayo Clinic, US, have developed a new antibody test to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS). According to the Mayo scientific team, who developed the new diagnosis, it is a valid alternative to a commonly used test to detect oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid. The new diagnostic test that detects oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid requires about four hours of analytical processing. The Mayo study validates a diagnostic value of 0.1 milligrams per deciliter to measure kappa free light chains. The study estimates a significant cost savings for the new test. Better yet, results are available in about 20 minutes. The study, which analysed serum samples from a retrospective cohort of 702 Mayo patients to determine a diagnostic value for measurement of kappa free light chains, has results that are comparable to diagnostic values from tests measuring oligoclonal bands.