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Transferrin, beta-2-
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Approval req'd? | No |
| Available Stat? | No |
| Test code | B2TAU |
| Test group | Transferrin |
| Performed by | Mayo |
| Sendout? | Yes |
| Method | Electrophoresis, Immunofixation-peroxidase antisera/Dimethylformamide visualization |
| Collection Instructions | Collect 0.5 mL of body fluid (nasal, otic, etc.) directly with a pipet, syringe, test tube or microcollection device. If submitting a syringe, remove needle and add cap to end of syringe. If direct collection is not feasible, specimen may be collected using cotton swabs: A. Place cotton swab in as small a container as possible. B. Do NOT add any additional fluid to swab including, but not limited to, saline or microcollection fluids. C. Tightly seal container and freeze. D. Indicate specimen type on request form. E. Send specimen frozen in plastic vial. |
| Container type | Small collection tube or cotton swab |
| Amount to Collect | See preferred volume |
| Sample type | Nasal or Otic Fluid discharge. NOTE: This test should NOT be performed on known CSF samples without approval from a Lab Medicine faculty or resident. |
| Preferred volume | 0.5 mL fluid |
| Min. Volume | 0.05 mL (50 µL) fluid |
| UCSF Rejection Criteria | Samples that are not collected per "Collection Instructions" Syringes received with needle attached. |
| Processing notes | Freeze fluid or swab at -20C. Ship frozen. Order Mayo test # 80351. |
| Normal range | Negative |
| Synonyms | Tau-protein; CSF leak; Transferrin, B2; B2 transferrin; cerebrospinal fluid leakage; Otorrhea, CSF; Rhinorrhea, CSF; |
| Stability | Room temperature unacceptable, refrigerated unacceptable, frozen at -20C, 2 weeks. |
| Turn around times | Performed 6 days per week. Turnaround 3-5 days |
| Additional information | This asialyl variant of transferrin is normally found in CSF but not serum or nasal secretions. Its presence in otic or nasal fluid discharge suggests a leakage of CSF. False positives may occur due to contamination with aqueous humor, the serum of patients following ingestion of alcohol, and the serum of some normal individuals with a structural variant which displays a similar electrophoretic mobility. |
| CPT coding | 86335-90 |
| LOINC code | 13876-8 |
| Last Updated | 3/24/2013 7:22:18 PM |
| Entry Number | 940 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667