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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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PROTEIN, CSF

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2938    Geisinger Epic ID:  21931

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Cerebrospinal fluid


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

1 mL CSF; minimum 0.2 mL.


Special notes: 

Deliver immediately to Chemistry Laboratory.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 1 day. Refrigerated: 6 days. Frozen: 1 year.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Premature baby: 15-130 mg/dL 
Full Term Newborn: 40-120 mg/dL 
<= 1 month: 20-80 mg/dL 
> 1 month: 15-45 mg/dL


CPT code(s):  84157
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: 

CSF protein.


Methodology: 
Benzethonium chloride (Protein)
Synonyms: 

Spinal fluid total protein


Clinical significance: 

The CSF normally contains less than 1% of the amount of protien present in plasma. Clinical disorders associated with increased CSF protein include traumatic spinal tap, increased blood-CSF permeability due to meningitis or hemorrhage, endocrine/metabolic disorders, drug toxicity, and CSF circulation disorders. Clinical disorders associated with decreased CSF total protein include CSF leakage from dural tear, increased intracranial pressure, removal of CSF, hyperthyroidism, and leukemia. Young children (6 months to 2 years)also have decreased CSF total protein.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/27/2024

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