C.S.F. Glucose
Sample: CSF
Schedule: Daily
Units: mg/dL
Range: 30-70 mg/dL
Remarks: CSF Glucose is used in differential diagnosis of meningitis of viral or bacterial origin, because the latter is characterized by a CSF glucose <30 mg/dL, a CSF glucose:blood glucose ratio <0.2-0.3, CSF Protein >200 mg/dL, a CSF PMN count >1000/mm3 and an 80% to 90% likelihood of positive Grams stain. CSF Glucose is usually normal in viral meningitis, but in herpes or mumps meningoencephalitis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and enteroviruses, glucose may be low.
