Preferred Sample Type
Specimen Transport
Sample MUST be delivered by hand to laboratory and not sent in Sample Delivery System (SDS).First Class Post on wet ice
Store at -20 ºC until ready to post
Sample Processing in Laboratory
no special requirements
Turnaround Time
1 weekSample Stability
-20 ºC.
TAU protein (Asialotransferrin) - query CSF leak
General Information
Used to determine the orgin of watery ear or nose discharge, especially following a high risk event such as a head injury. Detection of asialotransferrin in a fluid indicates the presence of CSF, and therefore can be used to diagnose CSF rhinorrhoea or otorrhoea. CSF asialotransferrin is also known as Tau protein but is not related to the family of microtubule-associated Tau proteins found in neuronal tissue. It is an asialylated form of transferrin produced in the cerebral parenchyma by lysosomal hydrolysis of the serum-derived transferrin. Up to 30% of transferrin in lumbar CSF is in the asialylated form.
Patient Preparation
None
Notes
If patient has to store at home while collecting, it is best to freeze the sample.
Reference Range
Provided by reference laboratory
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: No
-
EQA Status:
No scheme available