Glucose, Cerebrospinal Fluid

TEST: 002048
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CPT: 82945
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Synonyms

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose

Expected Turnaround Time

1 - 2 days

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Related Documents

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.2 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)

Container

Clean sterile tube

Collection

A CSF specimen is obtained by spinal tap and should be collected in sterile tubes and submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible. A simultaneous blood glucose level should also be obtained and submitted. Ordinarily, three samples are taken in sterile tubes and labeled sequentially as N° 1 (chemistry and immunology studies), N° 2 (microbiological examination), and N° 3 (cell count and differential). Tubes must be labeled with patient's full name, date, time of collection, and with the number indicating the sequence in which the tubes were obtained.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate

Causes for Rejection

Improper labeling

Test Details

Use

Evaluate meningitis, neoplastic involvement of meninges, other neurological disorders; diagnose neuroglycopenia, even in the presence of normal plasma glucose, especially in chlorpropamide (Diabinese®) poisoning

Methodology

Enzymatic

Reference Interval

See table.

Age

Male (mg/dL)

Female (mg/dL)

0 to 5 y

41–59

41–59

6 to 12 y

46–62

43–60

13 to 17 y

45–66

45–66

>17 y

49–73

49–73

Additional Information

Elevation implies hyperglycemia two to four hours earlier. Significantly decreased cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels are <40 mg/dL in fasting patient with normal plasma glucose. The frequency of low CSF glucose in bacterial meningitis varies somewhat between series; a major textbook of pediatrics points out that acute viral meningitis is often differentiated from acute bacterial meningitis, because the latter is characterized by a CSF glucose <30 mg/dL, a CSF glucose:blood glucose ratio <0.2−0.3 as well as a protein >200 mg/dL, a CSF PMN count >1000/mm3 and an 80% to 90% likelihood of positive Gram stain, in an illness often occurring during the winter in a child younger than two years of age.1 The magnitude of the seasonal curves for viral versus bacterial meningitis (the former more frequent in the summer) is greater than most clinicians appreciate.2 In 134 Gram stain positive cases, CSF glucose was 14.4/30.6/50.4 mg/dL, 25th/percentile median/75th percentile.2 The gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is the culture.3,4 Decreased CSF glucose is characteristically but not invariably found in tuberculous, fungal and amebic meningitis (Naegleria) as well as in bacterial meningitis. Glucose is usually normal in viral meningitis, but in herpes or mumps meningoencephalitis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and enteroviruses, glucose may be low. Sarcoidosis and neurosyphilis are reported causes of low CSF glucose. Other very uncommon causes of low CSF glucose include meningeal cysticercosis, trichinosis, and with the chemical meningitis which accompanies intrathecal therapy. Low CSF glucose may also occur in subarachnoid hemorrhage and neoplasia (eg, medulloblastoma). Low CSF glucose may be found in CNS leukemia. Decrease has led to the diagnosis of insulinoma presenting with CNS symptoms. Rheumatoid meningitis and lupus myelopathy may cause low CSF glucose.5 CSF glucose levels ≤20 mg/dL are highly correlated with bacterial meningitis.6 Lactic acid may be useful in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, but values overlap those found with viral meningitis (aseptic meningitis).5

Footnotes

1. Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Nelson WE, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co;1992:683-691.
2. Spanos A, Harrell FE Jr, Durack DT. Differential diagnosis of acute meningitis. An analysis of the predictive value of initial observations. JAMA. 1989 Nov 17; 262(19):2700-2707. 2810603
3. Rodewald LE, Woodin KA, Szilâgyi PG, Arvan DA, Raubertas RF, Powell KR. Relevance of common tests of cerebrospinal fluid in screening for bacterial meningitis. J Pediatr. 1991 Sep; 119(3):363-369. 1880647
4. Smith AL. Bacterial meningitis. Pediatr Rev. 1993 Jan; 14(1):11-8. 8418448
5. Fishman RA. Cerebrospinal Fluid in Diseases of the Nervous System. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co;1992.
6. Greenlee JE. Approach to diagnosis of meningitis—cerebrospinal fluid evaluation. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1990 Dec; 4(4):583-598. 2277190

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
002048 Glucose, Cerebrospinal Fluid 2342-4 002049 Glucose, CSF mg/dL 2342-4

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