Specimen Type/Requirements

Sterile Container - CSF

Collect CSF by lumbar puncture.  Discard first 2 mL that flows from tap.  Collect next 5 mL CSF, avoiding a bloody tap.  Freeze within 20 minutes of collection.  Store and transport frozen.  Ship using styrofoam container with sufficient dry ice (5 lbs/24 hours).  The National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center requests a urine sample for research purposes with all CSF samples if available.  

Note:  Patient must be 12 years of age or older for this test to be performed.

Reject Criteria:  Bloody and insufficient sample quantity; samples that are colored or contain blood cannot be performed.

Test is affected by hemolysis.  Test is not affected by lipemia.