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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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BETA-2 TRANSFERRIN

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB1843    Geisinger Epic ID:  35211

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Body fluid, excluding CSF


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

0.5 mL body fluid; minimum 0.2 mL.


Special notes: 

Collect 0.5 mL (minimum 0.2 mL) of body fluid (nasal, otic, etc.). Direct collections may be done with a pipette, syringe, test tube, or microcollection device. If submitting a syringe, remove needle; and add cap to end of syringe.
NOTES:

  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. If direct collection is not feasible, specimens may be collected using cotton swabs.
    • Place cotton swab in as small a container as possible (for example: a tightly-stoppered test tube).
    • Do NOT add any additional fluid to swab including, but not limited to, saline or microcollection fluids.
    • Tightly seal container.
    • Indicate specimen type on request form.


SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Room temperature.


Specimen stability: 

Room Temperature: 15 days. Refrigerated: 30 days. Frozen: 60 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Do not send CSF. CSF is not an acceptable specimen for this test; this test is used to detect CSF leakage in other body fluids (e.g., ear, nose, eye).



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Beta-2 Transferrin, BF Negative.


CPT code(s):  86335
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Beta 2 transferrin.


Methodology: 
Electrophoresis
Immunofixation
Synonyms: 

CSF in other body fluid, Quest test code 10640, B2TRF


Clinical significance: 

Presence of Beta-2 Transferrin (B2T) in nose and ear secretions is indicative of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. B2T is used as a marker of CSF leakage for the diagnosis of rhinorrhea or otorrhea as a result of head trauma, tumor, congenital malformation, surgery etc. Prompt diagnosis and localization helps localization and life-threatening CNS infections.


Review Date:  11/25/2024

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