MuSK antibody test
Quick answer: This blood test looks for antibodies against muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), a protein where nerves meet muscles. Doctors usually order it when myasthenia gravis is suspected but the acetylcholine receptor antibody test is negative.
- SampleBlood
- TakesAbout 5 minutes
- Before the testNo special preparation is usually needed.
How the test is done
- 1You are seated and your arm supported
- 2The skin over a vein is cleaned
- 3A needle draws blood into a tube
- 4The lab measures antibodies to muscle-specific kinase
What your results can mean
Reading your report
A positive result does not by itself confirm a disease, because some healthy people test positive; your doctor reads it with your symptoms and other tests.
If the result is outside the usual range
A positive result supports myasthenia gravis, often a form that affects the face, throat and neck muscles more. A negative result does not rule out myasthenia.
Who usually has this test
People with drooping eyelids, double vision, slurred speech, trouble swallowing or tiring muscles, especially if acetylcholine receptor antibodies are negative.
Risks and aftercare
Tell staff if you feel weak or tired, and take your time getting up after the draw.
Names and options
Also called: anti-MuSK, muscle-specific kinase antibody
Listed by the hospital as
- MUSK ANTIBODY
Questions about this test
Why test MuSK if the acetylcholine receptor test is negative?
Some people with myasthenia gravis have MuSK antibodies instead of acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Finding them confirms the diagnosis and can guide treatment.
Does MuSK myasthenia behave differently?
It often affects the face, throat and breathing muscles more, and can respond differently to some treatments. Your neurologist will plan care around this.
Can myasthenia gravis affect pregnancy?
Symptoms can change during pregnancy and after birth. Women with myasthenia are usually advised to plan pregnancy with their neurologist and obstetrician.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.