Caltag Medsystems can procure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from healthy and diseased donors and provide a reagent to stabilise these samples for downstream analyses.
CSF is a colourless bodily fluid found in the brain and spine, which acts as a cushion or buffer from the brain’s cortex. CSF is obtained from the body via lumbar puncture. The back is anaesthetised and a needle inserted between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. CSF is then collected under its own pressure.
Analysis of white blood cells in CSF is critical in the diagnosis of many infectious and inflammatory neurological disorders, as well as the central nervous system involvement with lymphoproliferative disorders.
Caltag Medsystems has established agreements in place to procure biological samples obtained from patients via the gift of tissue and organ donation for research advancements in medical science. All donations are donated in line with Caltag Medsystems ethical policy.
Fresh and frozen samples we are able to provide include:
- CSF from healthy living and post-mortem donors (single donors or pooled donors)
- CSF from donors with auto-immune diseases, infectious diseases, dementia and others
- Matched donor material is also available.
Flow cytometric analysis can provide absolute cell counts and detect rare events with high-sensitivity and specificity, however since cells within CSF samples are typically low in number, sparse in concentration and degrade rapidly ex-vivo it is necessary to test CSF samples promptly.
To aid in stabilising CSF samples until flow cytometry can be performed, Caltag Medsystems manufactures TransFix, a solution that stabilises leucocytes and leucocytic antigens for up to 14 days, preserving the absolute cell counts and cellular markers. This allows for the differentiation of leucocyte sub-populations and provides an extended time frame for analytical testing.
Please contact Caltag Medsystems to learn more about its CSF samples and stabilisation reagents.