Microalbumin (in cerebrospinal fluid)

LABOKLIN Service ID: 85


  • Microalbumin refers to micro amounts of albumin.
  • Albumin passes from serum into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) solely via the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Determining the albumin concentration in CSF reflects the integrity of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. A quantitative assessment is made using the albumin quotient (QAlb), calculated from the ratio of CSF albumin [mg/dl] to serum albumin [g/dl] in combination with the absolute albumin concentration in CSF (especially in dogs).

Material

Cerebrospinal fluid 0.3 ml

Method

Photometry

Species list

Dog, cat

Duration

1–2 working days

Remark

  • An elevated QAlb indicates increased permeability of the bloodcerebrospinal fluid barrier (e.g. in inflammatory, neoplastic or traumatic CNS diseases).
  • QAlb concentrations within the reference range indicate an intact blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.
  • A valid assessment always requires a combination of CSF albumin, serum albumin and other CSF parameters (protein, cell count).