Two cases of spuriously elevated cerebrospinal glucose concentration

Abstract

We present two cases of spuriously high cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration with approximately normal blood glucose concentrations. The cause of these abnormal findings was the use of inappropriate collection tubes during the pre-analytical phase. Whilst no patient harm was identified following this error, significant time and effort were expended by both laboratory and clinical staff to explain the cause of these findings.

Keywords: CSF/blood glucose ratio; Cerebrospinal fluid; glucose concentration; pre-analytical conditions; stabilising solution.