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Chemical Pathology

Notes

  • For investigation of possible non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (also known as glycine encephalopathy), which can present in neonates.
  • **DO NOT SEND CSF SAMPLES VIA THE AIR TUBE. SAMPLES MUST BE TAKEN BY HAND TO PATHOLOGY RECEPTION**

Sample requirements

  • The CSF sample should be accompanied by a simultaneous plasma sample (ideally collected within two hours of the CSF) to allow calculation of the CSF:plasma glycine ratio (1 and 2 below).
  • CSF must not be bloodstained.
  • If other CSF investigations are required please check CSF Sample Requirements for further details

  1. A minimum of 0.1 mL of CSF collected into a plain 30 mL Universal
30ml universal container

(1 mL of CSF is approximately equal to 25 drops from the Luer connector of the needle).

  1. Blood taken into a 0.8mL minicollect lithium heparin tube
0.8ml minicollect tube


Required information

  • Clinical reason for the investigation,
  • Date of any previous lumbar puncture (if within the last month)
  • The date and time of the current lumbar puncture

Turnaround times

CSF samples are sent for analysis to North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust with results expected back within 3 weeks.

Reference ranges

This will be supplied with the results.

Further information

To learn more about CSF analysis, visit Lab Tests Online


Page last updated 29/04/2024