26838 Beta-Trace Protein, Body Fluid (BTP)

B2 Transferrin

Beta-2 Transferrin

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage

CSF Specific Transferrin

Otorrhea, Spinal Fluid

Prostaglandin D2 synthase

Rhinorrhea, Spinal Fluid

Tau Protein

Transferrin B2

Transferrin, Spinal Fluid​

​Determining the presence of cerebrospinal fluid in body fluids.

​Collection Instructions:
1. If submitting a syringe, remove the needle. Add cap to end of syringe.
2. If direct collection is not feasible, specimen may be collected using a plain cotton swab, pledget, gauze or facial tissue.
 a. For gauze or facial tissue: circle area on the gauze where specimen was collected.
 b. For swab, pledget, gauze or facial tissue: place in a small container (plain test tube or sterile container).
3. Do not collect specimen with a culture swab.
4. Do not add any additional liquid other than source to the swab or gauze.
5. Do not collect or send swab or gauze specimens in containers with additional liquids or additives.
Additional Information:
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 specimen), reliable results are best obtained with an adequate specimen volume.
2. Specimens collected with additives such as microbiology media (eg, Stuart or Amies liquid medium) or TransFix/EDTA (used for analyses in flow cytometry) yield uninterpretable results and will be rejected.

Specimens with additives (eg. microbiology transport media, Transfix/EDTA)​

Interferences by rheumatoid factors are generally suppressed by the use of the N BTP (beta trace protein) Supplementary Reagent.

Low volume of cerebrospinal fluid specimens may reduce the beta trace protein recovery.​

The diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea or otorrhea (leakage of CSF into the nose or ear canal, usually as a result of head trauma, tumor, congenital malformation, or surgery) is often difficult to confirm. Traditional chemical analyses (eg, glucose, protein, specific gravity) are unreliable. Radiographic studies, especially those involving the injection of dyes or radiographic compounds, are costly and may introduce additional risks to the patient. Prompt diagnosis and localization facilitates appropriate decisions and decreases the risk of meningitis.

Beta-trace protein (prostaglandin D synthase) is one of the most abundant proteins in CSF and has a very low concentration in other body fluids. Elevated concentrations of beta-trace protein in body fluid or drainage are consistent with CSF leakage.

Beta-trace protein is produced within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and typically has a greater than 10-fold higher concentration in the CSF versus blood plasma.

Beta-trace protein concentrations above 7 mg/L are 84% sensitive and 97% specific for the presence of CSF.