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Report Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) within one week.
Diagnostic Criteria (PDF 65KB)
CJD became a notifiable condition in 1998 in
Texas. Suspected cases of CJD should be reported to local health departments by
dialing 1-800-705-8868.
Several Texas laws (Tex. Health & Safety
Code, Chapters 81, 84 and 87) require specific information regarding notifiable
conditions be provided to the Texas Department of State Health Services
(DSHS). Health care providers, hospitals, laboratories, schools, and
others are required to report patients who are suspected of having a notifiable
condition (25 Tex. Admin. Code §97.2).
In September 1997, the National Prion Disease
Pathology Surveillance Center (Prion Center) was established at the Division of
Neuropathology of Case Western Reserve University to, among other functions,
assist clinicians in the diagnosis of prion disease. The NPDPSC assists
clinicians by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and brain tissue.
Information about diagnostic services,
protocols for various CJD testing, and specimen submission can be obtained at
Prion Center http://case.edu/medicine/pathology/divisions/prion-center/ or by contacting the director, Dr. Jiri Safar and staff
at the Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell
Rd., 5129 WRB, Cleveland, OH 44106-7288; Phone: (216) 368-3611; Fax: (216)
368-0494; E-mail: cjdsurveillance@case.edu.
Physicians
are strongly encouraged to confirm the diagnosis of CJD by arranging for an
autopsy following the death of the person suspected of having CJD. This is
especially important if the person had an onset of illness at an age less than
55 years. Please contact the center above for assistance or specimen
submission.