Beta-2 Transferrin, Body Fluid

Detection of Spinal Fluid in Other Body Fluid

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232047, Beaker: B 2 Trans, Quest: 10640

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: 0.5 mL body fluid in a sterile collection container. (Minimum: 0.05 mL)

• Indicate specimen source.
• If direct collection is not feasible, specimen may be collected using plain cotton swab and submitted in a sterile plastic leak-proof transport tube.
• If submitting syringe, remove needle and cap the syringe to avoid specimen leakage.
• Do not collect specimen with a culture swab.
• Do not add any liquid to the swab.

NOTE:

• Specimens contaminated with salivary fluid degrade the beta-2 transferrin. These specimens should be frozen immediately following collection and should be kept frozen until testing is performed.
• Specimens collected with additives yield uninterpretable results and will be rejected.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 0.5 mL body fluid, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.05 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens other than body fluids.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Maintain specimens frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below) prior to transport.

Transport: 0.5 mL body fluid, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.05 mL) 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 15 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 30 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 60 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Daily.
Results available in 2-4 days.

Reference Range

Not detected.

Test Methodology

Electrophoresis / Immunofixation

Interpretation

See report.

Clinical Utility

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.

CPT Codes

86335

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025