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Laboratory Medicine

Test Directory / CSF Glucose

CSF Glucose

Fluoride Oxalate

TestCSF Glucose
Common AbbreviationsNA
ProfileNA
Tube typefluoride EDTA
Clinical IndicationCSF glucose is normally 60% lower than blood levels. Glucose can be measured in cerebrospinal fluid as an adjunct to the diagnosis of meningitis. Glucose levels below 1 mmol/L are strongly suggestive of bacterial meningitis and levels are typically normal in viral meningitis. Other causes of low CSF glucose are other CNS infections, sarcoidosis, malignnacy and SAH.
Specimen TypeCSF
Sample typeCSF
Minimum Volume200µl
Special PrecautionsSpecimens received in plain universal tubes should be rapidly transferred into Fluoride Oxalate tubes
Stability3 days at 4-8C
Turnaround TimeUrgent: 2 hours Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours
LaboratoryYork and Scarborough
Reference Interval3.3-4.5 mmol/L Age <2yrs 2.2-3.9 mmol/L Age >2yrs
Limitations In very rare cases gammopathy, especially monoclonal IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results.
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