title: Resolving Transferrin Isoforms via Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may present as rhinorrhea or otorrhea and can lead to life-threatening complications if not detected. The usefulness of the morpholinopropanesulfonic acid (MOPS)-histidine buffer in detecting β₂-transferrin, which is only found in the cerebrospinal fluid, was compared with the standard barbital buffer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 20 aural or nasal patient specimens submitted for CSF testing via agarose electrophoresis with barbital and MOPS-histidine buffers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MOPS-histidine and barbital buffers revealed 5 transferrin bands and 2 transferrin bands with CSF, respectively. Seventeen of 20 patient specimens had concordant results. The 3 discrepant specimens initially tested negative with the barbital buffer and positive with the MOPS-histidine buffer. Two of the 3 patient specimens later tested positive with the barbital buffer when a new specimen was submitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agarose electrophoresis with the MOPS-histidine buffer increases the resolution of transferrin isoforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ananiwq@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Waseem Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Anani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ojerholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shurin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014168:Transferrin
keywords: CSF leak; agarose; beta-2 transferrin; electrophoresis