title: Measurement of glial fibrillary acidic protein in blood: an analytical method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, a new assay for the measurement of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in human blood is described. The aim of the study was to present the characteristics of a new GFAP assay for blood analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method, a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was validated using blood samples from healthy blood donors and from patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  22 out of 72 healthy blood donors had a detectable GFAP level. The reference values (percentiles) are as follows: P50=0.15 microg/l and P95=0.49 microg/l; range 0.15-0.76 microg/l.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GFAP in blood might be a promising new marker for astrocyte involvement after acute brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pediatrics and Neurology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Reinier Postlaan 4, 6525 GC Nijmegen, The Netherlands. w.vangeel@cukz.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Wieneke J A
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: Herman P M
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: de Reus
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nijzing
authors.forename: Marcel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Verbeek
authors.forename: Pieter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Karel J B
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lamers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D002138:Calibration; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein