National audit of cerebrospinal fluid testing.
BACKGROUND
UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) Specialist Advisory Group for EQA of CSF Proteins and Biochemistry was interested in current practice for the biochemical investigation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the UK.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to laboratories via regional audit committees and the results collated.


RESULTS
Most laboratories were analysing CSF in a satisfactory manner. There was some variation in the reference ranges used for glucose, protein and lactate. There was concern about the rejection policies of some laboratories on these unrepeatable samples and the wavelengths used to measure bilirubin. The survey revealed the lack of spectrophotometric scanning for haem pigments and bilirubin in some hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
The current practice for the measurement of CSF samples in the UK is satisfactory in most laboratories responding to the questionnaire. National agreement on reference ranges for glucose, protein and lactate should be achievable. Those performing spectrophotometric scanning of the CSF were doing so in concordance with the national guidelines. Some hospitals in the UK may not have responded to the questionnaire because they did not offer spectrophotometric scanning.
Holbrook
Ian
I
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, York Hospital, York YO31 8HE, UK. ian.b.Holbrook@york.nhs.uk
Beetham
Robert
R
Cruickshank
Anne
A
Egner
William
W
Fahie-Wilson
Mike
M
Keir
Geoff
G
Patel
Dina
D
Watson
Ian
I
White
Peter
P
D001663:Bilirubin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005947:Glucose / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D011506:Proteins; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D001663:Bilirubin