Protecting our precious brains is of utmost importance and our bodies go to great lengths to do that. Most obviously is the 7mm thick skull, but the brain is also surrounded by protective fluid and a protective membrane called the meninges. These protect the brain from physical damage. The blood brain barrier is responsible for providing a defence against pathogens and toxins that may be present in the blood. As well as protecting us this way, the blood brain barrier helps to maintain balanced levels of hormones, nutrients and water in the brain.
So what happens if the blood brain barrier is damaged or somehow compromised?
One common way this occurs is through bacterial infection, as in meningococcal bacteria which can cause meningitis. The bacteria bind to the cells that make up the blood brain barrier and cause them to become leaky – a bit like a leaky gut that we can call a leaky brain. The blood brain barrier becomes more porous, allowing bacteria and other toxins to infect the brain tissue, which can lead to inflammation.
It’s also thought the blood brain barrier’s function can decrease in some neurological conditions; for example, it’s implicated in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and head injuries such as those caused by contact sport are other common causes of the breakdown of the blood brain barrier.
Cyrex Array 20 tests for breakdown of your blood brain barrier or “leaky brain”, a condition in which this barrier becomes permeable to substances that should not be allowed through. When blood brain barrier permeability is present, antibodies in your blood may infiltrate your brain or nervous system: the more circulating antibodies you have, the greater your risk or degree of brain/neurological tissue damage.
Blood brain barrier protein IgG + IgA combined
Blood brain barrier protein IgM
This is a blood test that requires a blood sample which will then need to be centrifuged. This can be carried out at the lab if the sample is received within 24 hours from the blood draw.
You will need to arrange for a blood sample to be collected either at a laboratory in London, by a nurse at your GP service or at a private clinic or hospital. Any fee for this service is not included with the test fee.
While Cyrex is unable to provide an exhaustive list of medications due to the interactive complexities and varieties of medications and patient circumstances, the following has been noted:
Please do not stop any medication without your doctor’s consent.
3 years and above.
Once you’ve collected your sample, you’ll need to send it back to the lab via a next day service. A prepaid return label is included with your test kit.
Please note that samples should only be posted on Monday – Thursday so that they do not arrive over the weekend when the lab is closed.
14-21 days.
Your test results will be emailed to you.
All sample reports are for representational and educational purposes only. Biomarkers, references ranges, results, and all other data may differ from actual reports. All data included in no way represents an actual patient. Any comparisons of results to actual patients is completely incidental.
Updated April 2020
