At 2001-11-30 15:37 +0000, Cathryn Corns wrote:
>At present, we do not carry out biochemical testing of CSF from patients
>suspected of having prion diseases. However, the Trust is developing a new
>policy regarding management of these patients and we are being asked if we
>can do CSF protein/glucose analysis as these may be helpful if it is a non-
>prion condition.
A general advise concerning all kinds of infection risks is to consult
experts in this field in order to get the approprate advise. However, as
far as I know, the probability of infection is very low using current
laboratory routines. On the other side, if this happens...
Certainly there is a need for CSF protein analysis for patients having
prion diseases and this demand should be satisfied. Not necessarily in the
local laboratory but rather at a place where these risks can be handled
appropriately.
Furthermore, it is many years since it was convincingly shown that
CSF/serum Glucose quotient should be replaced by CSF Lactate, but still the
former method seems to be included in the laboratory lists.
Lactate in CSF is performed like in serum or plasma and, in the case of
infectious samples, the method can be performed manually using disposable
equipments.
Mr Sten Öhman, PhD
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