BETA-2 TRANSFERRIN: DETECTION OF SPINAL FLUID IN OTHER BODY FLUIDS
Marquette General Health System

General Info

Alpha Code

   B8084

MGH LIS Test No

   8084

Schedule

   Monday through Saturday

Testing Time

   1 Day

Testing Lab

   Mayo Labs

QORR Test Code

   B8084

Specimen Info

Type

      

Volume

    

Temperature

   Frozen

Preservative

    

Collection Info

   1. 0.5 mL of body fluid (nasal, otic, etc.).
2. Direct collections may be done with a pipette, syringe, test tube,
   or microcollection device.
NOTE: 1. Although results may be obtainable on smaller specimens
         (perhaps as little as 0.05 mL, depending on the protein
         concentrations and percentage of spinal fluid in the
         sample), reliable results are best obtained with an 
         adequate sample volume.
      2. If direct collection is not feasible, samples may be
         collected using cotton swabs.
         A. The fluid must be expressed from the swabs and placed
            into a microcollection container.
         B. Do not mail the swabs.
         C. Specimens which are extremely small (<0.05 mL) may be
            eluted from the swab by adding 0.1 mL of normal saline.
         D. Indicate specimen type, if the specimen has been diluted,
            and record the volume of saline added on request form.
         E. The specimen will be handled and interpreted accordingly.
      3. Send specimen frozen in plastic vial on dry ice.      
 
Specimen Acceptability

Methods
Electrophoresis/Immunofixation/Enzyme-immunodetection

Clinical Utilities
Useful For: Detection of spinal fluid in body fluids, such as ear or nasal fluid Interpretation: The CSF variant of transferrin is identified by its unique electrophoretic migration. If beta-1 and beta-2 transferrin are detected in drainage fluids, the specimen is presumed to be contaminated with CSF. The presence of beta-2 transferrin band is detectable with as little as 2.5% spinal fluid contamination of body fluids. Cautions: Beta-2 transferrin is also found in aqueous humor and in serum of patients with rare metabolic glycoprotein disorders or genetic variants of transferrin. Beta-2 transferrin may be undetectable if the specimen is diluted by saliva and not frozen after collection.

CPT Codes
86335

Reference Range
Negative, no beta-2 transferrin (spinal fluid) detected
(reported as positive or negative)      

Component Information

Collection Notes

Additional Comments

 

Questions or Comments email support@mgh.org

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