We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay to detect central nervous system (CNS)-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein to show the presence of CNS material on the medial surface of each half (left and right) of washed carcasses after splitting with a band-type saw. The high level contamination (≥0.4) was detected at the highest ratio on the brisket + plate area surface of carcasses (33.3%). The moderate level contamination (>0.2) was detected at the highest ratio on the brisket + plate and loin areas surface of carcasses (11.1%). The low-level contamination (≥0.1) was detected at the highest ratio on the flank and hip areas surface of carcasses (100.0%). The similar level contamination risk was found on both the right and left half of 72 beef carcasses. Although no contamination was detected on the band-type saw, the low-level contamination (≥0.1) was detected on the floor where the splitting of the carcasses was performed. Even though the low-level contamination (≥0.1) was detected on all areas of the carcasses, even after washing, the moderate and high level contamination were detected only on the chuck + rib, brisket + plate and loin areas. © 2009, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.