Lactic Acid, CSF

Test Code

LACSF

Alias/See Also

1659

CPT Codes
83605

Preferred Specimen

1 mL CSF collected in a sterile, plastic, screw-cap container

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Instructions

If specimen is not clear or contains blood, centrifuge and separate supernatant fluid before freezing.

Note: The assay manufacturer, Roche, notes that N-acetylcysteine, when administered in high concentrations (such as for treatment of acetaminophen overdose), can interfere with their assay for lactate (lactic acid), leading to falsely low results.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 3 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 90 days

Methodology
Spectrophotometric

Setup Schedule

Set up: Sun-Fri; Report available: 1-2 days

Clinical Significance

Lactic Acid levels in CSF normally parallel blood levels. Increased CSF Lactic Acid levels occur in trauma, seizure, brain abscess, Multiple Sclerosis, and bacterial meningitis.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.