Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease




Test Mnemonic

CJD

CPT Codes

  • 84182 - QTY (1)
  • 86317 - QTY (1)
  • 0035U - QTY (1)

Aliases

  • 14 - 3 - 3 Protein
  • CJD
  • Mad Cow Disease
  • Prion Disease

Includes

  • 14-3-3 Protein
  • Tau Protein
  • PrPSC (RT-QuIC)

Performing Laboratory

National Prion Disease Center


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
5 mLCerebrospinal fluid (CSF)Clean container FrozenDiscard first 2 mL of CSF from tap before starting collection. Avoid a bloody tap.
100 mLUrine, randomClean container FrozenImmediately place specimen on ice. A urine sample is requested, but not required, for research purposes only.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2 mL    CSF
5 mL    Urine

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient48 hours
FrozenIndefinitely
Refrigerated2 weeks

Days Performed

Varies

Turnaround Time

8 - 11 days

Methodology

Name Description
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 
Western Blot (WB) 

Reference Range

Special Info

A completed 'Test Request Form' MUST accompany each sample. CSF should be obtained by lumbar puncture. The first 2 mL of CSF that flows from the tap should be discarded. Avoid a bloody tap because RT-QuIC and 14-3-3 protein tests cannot be performed reliably when there is a significant presence of blood in the CSF specimen.