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CSF glucose

How the Test is Performed:
The test is usually performed on a CSF specimen collected by lumbar puncture ( spinal tap ).

The cerebrospinal fluid is analyzed in the lab.

How to Prepare:
You must sign a consent form. You must be prepared to remain in the hospital for at least the 6 to 8 hours that you must remain flat.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How it Feels:
The position may be uncomfortable, but it is imperative that you remain in the curled position to avoid moving the needle and possibly injuring the spinal cord.

The scrub will feel cold and wet. The anesthetic will sting or burn when first injected. There will be a hard pressure sensation when the needle is inserted, and there is usually some brief pain when the needle goes through the meninges. This pain should stop in a few seconds. Overall, discomfort is minimal to moderate. The entire procedure usually takes about 30 minutes but may take longer. The actual pressure measurements and fluid collection only takes a few minutes.

Risks:

Risks of lumbar puncture include:
- hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
- discomfort during the test
- headache after the test
- bleeding into the spinal canal
brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure ), and resulting in brain damage and/or death
damage to the spinal cord (particularly if the person moves during the test)

Why this Test is Performed:
The CSF glucose (sugar) test can help diagnose high sugar levels, bacterial or fungal infections, meningitis (an inflammation of the coverings of the brain or spine), mumps , and post - subarachnoid hemorrhage ( bleeding into the area between the skull and the brain).

Normal Values:
The glucose levels should be between 50 to 80 mg/100 ml. Levels may vary slightly depending on the amount of glucose in the blood.

Note: mg/ml = milligrams per milliliter

Abnormal Results:
Abnormal results include increased and decreased glucose levels. The findings could possibly indicate high blood sugar level , an infection (bacterial or fungal), meningitis , mumps , or a subarachnoid hemorrhage .

Cost:
The estimated cost is $15 to $20 for the lab analysis. (There is an additional cost for the lumbar puncture procedure).

Special Considerations:
Not applicable.