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The University of Chicago Medicine Laboratories

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Specimen Collection and Handling

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Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Test Code SFPR CSF Protein

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid

Preferred Specimen: CSF tube 

Other Acceptable specimens: Sterile Plastic Container, Sterile Clean Glass Container

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

1 day

Refrigerated

6 days 

Frozen

 1 year

Collection Instructions

  • Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 
  • No preservatives or additives.

 

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Cerebrospinal fluid specimen obtained by clinical procedures.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid must be sent to Laboratory Service Center immediately for analysis
  • Transport refrigerated (2 - 8ºC).

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Cerebrospinal fluid specimen obtained by clinical procedures.
  • Aliquot specimen into transport tube and freeze.
  • Transport refrigerated (2 - 8ºC).

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
  • Specimens that are collected with preservatives or additives.

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

CSF Total Protein

0 – 1 month

All

20 – 80 mg/dL 

CSF Total Protein

> 1 month old

All

15 – 45 mg/dL

Critical Values

Not applicable 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour 

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Clinical Indications

CSF protein measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as meningitis, brain tumors and infections of the central nervous system.

Test Components

Total Protein, CSF 

Methodology

Spectrophotometric, Endpoint (Roche Diagnostics)

CPT Codes

84157

LOINC Codes

TBD

Synonyms/Keyword Search

N/A

Additional Information

Lumbar puncture samples for CSF protein should be collected before fluorescein is given or at least 24 hours later. In a four tube collection series, the third tube is generally designated for chemistry analysis. Therapeutic concentrations of Ca-dobesilate, levodopa and phenazopyridine interfere with the assay. Radiopaque media containing organically bound iodine (e.g. Hexabrix) may cause false-high results. Contamination with blood causes erroneously high CSF protein results.

Last Review Date

4/10/2025

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL