Clinical Chemistry AACC Online Job Center
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Clinical Chemistry 51: 464-470, 2005. First published December 17, 2004; 10.1373/clinchem.2004.042697
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
clinchem.2004.042697v1
51/2/464    most recent
Right arrow Submit an electronic Letter to
the Editor about this paper
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Papadea, C.
Right arrow Articles by Schlosser, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Papadea, C.
Right arrow Articles by Schlosser, R. J.
Related Collections
Right arrow General Clinical Chemistry
Right arrow Clinical Immunology
Right arrow Proteomics and Protein Markers
Right arrow Automation and Analytical Techniques
(Clinical Chemistry. 2005;51:464-470.)
© 2005 American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc.

Case Report

Rapid Method for ß2-Transferrin in Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage Using an Automated Immunofixation Electrophoresis System

Christine Papadea1,a and Rodney J. Schlosser2

1 Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and2 Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.

aAddress correspondence to this author at: Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 165 Ashley Ave., Suite 309, PO Box 250908, Charleston, SC 29425. Fax 843-792-4811; e-mail papadecn{at}musc.edu.

Background: ß2-Transferrin (ß-2 trf) is a desialated isoform of transferrin found only in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), ocular fluids, and perilymph. In aural, nasal, and wound drainages, this protein is an important marker of CSF leakage. Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) on agarose gels is a widely accepted qualitative technique for detection of small amounts of ß-2 trf, but disadvantages include lengthy transfer immunoblotting techniques or the requirement of at least 2 mL of sample.

Methods: Using eight applications of unconcentrated sample on high-resolution agarose gels with an automated electrophoresis system (Helena SPIFE 3000), we developed a rapid method for ß-2 trf. Evaluation studies included reproducibility of migration distance (mm), limit of detection, specificity, and concordance of results compared with those reported by a reference laboratory. Neuraminidase-treated serum was the source of ß-2 trf for our sensitivity and specificity studies. Transferrin was measured by rate nephelometry.

Results: The 2.5-h procedure demonstrated reproducible migration (CV <2.5%) on five lots of gels. Detection of ß-2 trf at 0.002 g/L in an unconcentrated sample was attributed to reproducible application, quality of the anti-trf antiserum, and a sensitive acid violet stain. Our ß-2 trf findings (two negative and five positive) in seven available clinical samples agreed with the reference laboratory results. In 12 months after its inception, this test was ordered 48 times vs 13 in the previous year when testing was sent out.

Conclusion: This method provides physicians with a rapid, reliable aid in the diagnosis of suspected CSF leakage, as described in a case report.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.