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Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), Plasma
Test Code13979
CPT Codes
83884
Preferred Specimen
0.7 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Patient Preparation
Patients should be cautioned to stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to collection of a sample
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
Draw blood in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube. Invert to mix with preservatives. Centrifuge and transfer plasma to a labeled plastic transport tube.
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 35 days
Refrigerated: 35 days
Frozen: 56 days
Refrigerated: 35 days
Frozen: 56 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis
Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)
FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon, Tues-Sat; Report available: 1-3 days
Clinical Significance
Neurofilament light (NfL) is an intermediate filament protein found specifically in the neuronal cytoskeleton. It can be released into the extracellular space through axonal degradation, and it has been shown that varying NfL levels are an indicator of neuroaxonal damage, irrespective of the cause, and can therefore be associated with a variety of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, or Alzheimer's disease, as well as acute situations such as traumatic brain injury and others. NfL is thus considered a promising biomarker for, disease activity, progression, prognosis, and monitoring effectiveness of therapies. As NfL can be measured in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, it holds great potential for routine clinical use.
