Which test is commonly conducted to detect variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease?

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is commonly conducted to detect variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) because the disease is associated with specific proteins called prion proteins, which can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The presence of these proteins indicates the pathological process underlying vCJD. In particular, the analysis can reveal elevated levels of 14-3-3 protein and, more recently, RT-QuIC (Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion) assays for prions, which have proven useful in diagnosing this condition.

Other tests, while they can provide supportive evidence or assess different aspects of brain health, do not directly detect the prion proteins associated with vCJD as effectively as cerebrospinal fluid analysis. An MRI scan, for example, can identify characteristic changes in the brain associated with the disease but is not definitive for diagnosis. Similarly, a serum antibody test is not typically useful for diagnosing vCJD, and a skin biopsy would not yield relevant information related to the prion pathology in the nervous system.