Rapid detection of cerebrospinal fluid, methods and systems therefore

A method for determining presence, absence or quantity of cerebral spinal fluid in a biological sample, the method comprising:

• a) forming a beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample by contacting a biological sample with lectin coated on a solid support for a time, wherein the lectin is a sialic acid-specific lectin;
• b) subjecting the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample to a lateral flow immunoassay, wherein the immunoassay comprises:
• i) applying the transferrin-depleted sample to a lateral flow immunoassay section, wherein the section comprises a test surface comprising a first zone comprising a first conjugate comprising a first antibody directed against transferrin and colloidal gold particles, and a second zone comprising a second antibody directed against transferrin, wherein the second antibody is immobilized on the test surface in the second zone;
• ii) flowing the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample on the test surface by capillary action, wherein the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample contacts the first conjugate in the first zone, and wherein the transferrin, if any, comprised by the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample forms a first complex comprising the transferrin comprised by the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample, and the first conjugate;
• iii) further flowing the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample across a second zone, wherein the first complex, if present, contacts a second antibody in the second zone and forms a second complex, wherein the second complex comprises the transferrin comprised by the beta-1 transferrin-depleted sample, the first antibody, the colloidal gold, and the second antibody.