Investigation Name:Glucose – Plasma

Alias or Abbreviation:Blood sugar

Accreditation:UKAS Accredited ISO15189:2022 On scope

Pathology Laboratory:Clinical Chemistry/ Biochemistry

Requestable Seperately?Yes

Units:mmol/L

Minimum Sample Volume:0.5 mL (paediatric); 1 mL (adult)

Expected Turnaround Time:Urgent: <1 hour, non-urgent <4hrs. Outpatient/GP: 1 day

Test Code:GLX (random), GLXF (fasting)

Sample Type:

Maximum Add on Time:3 days

Complex Reference Range:Results outside of the range 3.9 – 6.0 mmol/L will be flagged as abnormal – please read below.
Plasma glucose varies in relation to food intake.
Lower limits thresholds (non-diabetic patients):
No universal value is agreed, some sources suggest a lower level of 2.5-2.8 mmol/L.

A diagnosis of hypoglycaemia requires the following: 1) symptoms consistent with hypoglycaemia 2) low plasma glucose 3) resolution of symptoms after blood glucose is raised. >br/>
WHO criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus:
Fasting glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L - consistent with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in a symptomatic patient. If asymptomatic, a second such value is required for diagnosis.
Fasting glucose 6.1 mmol/L - 6.9 mmol/L (inclusive) - impaired fasting glycaemia.
Random glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L (≥7.8 mmol/L if pregnant) - consistent with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. If asymptomatic, a repeat is required for diagnosis.
Random glucose 7.8 mmol/L - 11.0 mmol/L (inclusive) - impaired glucose tolerance.

Referred to Another Laboratory?No

Site Sample Tested:All acute sites