Helps establish the diagnosis of prion disease by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained either at biopsy or autopsy.
Identify the precise type of prion disease (sporadic, familial, or acquired) by examining the prion protein and the prion protein gene, once the diagnosis of prion disease has been established.
Search for the presence of the 14-3-3 protein. The 14-3-3 protein is a marker for some prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), when a number of other neurodegenerative conditions are excluded.
Provide effective surveillance for CJD and other prion diseases.