Pre-testing Requirements
Patient Preparation: Avoid therapy with drugs affecting neurotransmitter turnover for 10 days prior to collection.
Advanced Notice: Must notify CHL Tel 0800 843522 x80118 for a set of special NTD tubes/protocol prior to collection of CSF. This set of five CSF NTD tubes will also provide samples for CSF aminoacids, glucose and lactate. Paired serum samples for aminoacids and glucose should also be collected at the same time.
Additional Specimen Information
Samples frozen at bedside in dry ice unless blood stained
Blood stained CSF must be centrifuged and the clear supernatant transferred to fresh CSF collection tubes prior to freezing if possible.
Specimen Collection Protocols:
Special neurotransmitter form
Neurotransmitter protocol and information