Glucose, CSF

Diagnostic Use

The brain uses glucose as its primary source of energy, and consumes more glucose than any other organ.

The CSF glucose concentration can be measured to assist with the differential diagnoses of a patient with possible meningitis.

Department

Core Biochemistry

Delphic Registration Code

CSFB

Turnaround Time

2 hours

Test Code

3762

Specimen Type

• CSF

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Pottle

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.2

Aliquot Instructions

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.2

Interpretation

CSF glucose should be intepreted with a paired blood glucose measurement.  In normal health, the CSF glucose is approximately two-thirds of the plasma glucose.

A low CSF glucose may be seen with microbial contamination of the CSF (i.e. meningitis) due to microbial consumption of the glucose in the CSF.  In general, a low CSF glucose is seen with a bacterial (and sometimes fungal) meningitis, whereas a viral meningitis is usually associated with a normal CSF glucose concentration.

Reference Intervals

2.8 – 4.4 mmol/L

This reference interval assumes a state of normoglycaemia.  In hyperglycaemia, a higher CSF glucose would be expected.  For this reason, CSF glucose should be interpreted with a paired measurement of plasma glucose.

Test Method

Enzymatic spectrophotometry on a Beckman Coulter AU5822 analyser using Beckman Coulter reagents.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$5.05 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

3762

Contact Information

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