A comparative study of three approaches to the routine quantitative determination of spinal fluid total proteins.

The concentration of total protein in spinal fluid from 164 patients has been assayed by three methods based on different principles; a biuret, a dye-binding and a nephelometric procedure. Major proteins were quantified by immunochemical methods in order to get an estimate of the accuracy, and used for standard curves in the different methods in order to elucidate differences between total protein values. Based on the mean total protein values in relation to major protein values, total imprecision and practicability we conclude that the dye-binding technique is more accurate, precise and convenient than the other two methods for daily routine determination of total protein in spinal fluid.