New NSE testing panels
SA Pathology now provides Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) testing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
NSE is an immunoassay which is used to monitor therapy and progress in patients with tumour diseases, particularly small cell lung cancer and neuroblastoma.
The determination of NSE concentration also allows the assessment of neuronal damage following traumatic brain injuries, ischemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, anoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest and neurodegenerative disease.
Two new orderables have been created for the NSE assay, determined by clinical indication and collection location. Test-specific NSE reference ranges are provided on the result report.
NSE Tumour Marker:
- All community requests.
- Hospital wards (non-ICU), i.e., oncology departments and outpatient wards.
NSE Neurological:
- NSE Neurological is only available in the hospital setting, specifically the ICU for patients who have had cardiac arrest.
- Serial bloods are collected at 24, 48 and 72 hours after cardiac arrest to assess neurological function.
Sample handling is critical to providing accurate results.
- Serum is the only suitable sample for testing.
- Blood must be centrifuged within 1 hour of blood collection.
- Haemolysis will falsely increase the NSE results and should be avoided.
For more information, please contact the RAH Core Laboratory on (08) 7074 1231.
Regards
Dr Jill Lipsett
Clinical Service Director
SA Pathology
www.sapathology.sa.gov.a
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25 July 2024