14-3-3 protein test

The 14-3-3 protein test detects the presence of a specific protein in cerebrospinal fluid, which is usually done to help diagnose certain neurological conditions like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Normally, this protein isn't found in the fluid, but in some dangerous brain disorders, it appears early and can serve as a marker indicating rapid nerve cell destruction. The test helps doctors gather important information when assessing unexplained neurological symptoms, supporting diagnosis alongside other clinical evaluations and tests.