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HelpTest Code LAB185 Glucose, Spinal Fluid (CSF)
Performing Laboratory
St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry
Specimen Requirements
Patient Preparation: None
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred/acceptable: 7.0 mL screw-capped, sterile, plastic CSF collection vial
Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility aliquot processed sample into a sterile screw-capped plastic vial for transport (labeling with collection tube number taken from).
Specimen Collection Volume: minimum 0.3 mL
Special Instructions: Maintain sterility and forward promptly
Sample Rejection
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens
Samples that are grossly hemolyzed (or grossly bloody)
Logistics
Test Availability: Monday-Sunday
Cut-off time: None, performed as received
Turnaround Time: Same Day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab
Reference Values
Reference Interval: 60-66% of most current blood glucose value
Critical Value: <20 mg/dL (all ages)
Critical test results will be called back automatically initially and every 24 hours thereafter.
Methodology
UV (Enzymatic reference method with hexokinase)
CSF is not approved for use in this method by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Analytical characteristics and clinical utility have not been established.
Limitations
- NA
Additional Information
FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY
Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate within 30 minutes of collection and aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing.
Processed Volume: 0.3 mL CSF
Analyte Stability:
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Blood (unprocessed) | Ambient | 2 hours |
| Plasma/Serum (processed) | Refrigerated (preferred) | 4 days |
| Ambient | 2 hours | |
| Frozen | 2 months |
NOTE: Any specimen that are grossly bloody (visible cells present) or gross hemolysis should be cancelled as either "Cells present, results may be falsely elevated" or "Hemolyzed; results unreliable"
Test Classification and CPT Code
82947
LOINC
2343-4
Last Reviewed
06/2025