Glucose in Serum (24-hour profile)
This test measures your blood glucose levels over a 24-hour period to help assess how your body manages sugar (glucose) throughout the day.
["Understanding your glucose control at different times helps doctors check for diabetes or other metabolic conditions."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 11912-3
- Short code
- GA from CRL.Jeanty84
- Synonyms
- GA from CRL.Jeanty84
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- us-estimated-from-crl-jeanty
- Specimen volume
- 5 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why This Test Is Done
Your healthcare provider may order this test if you have symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, or unexplained weight changes. It’s also used to monitor how well a treatment for diabetes is working or to check for conditions like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
What to Expect Before the Test
You’ll typically fast overnight before collecting samples. Blood will be drawn at several points over 24 hours, often including before meals and after meals. Your provider will guide you on the exact timing and preparation needed.
How the Test Works
Blood samples are taken from a vein in your arm and sent to a lab. The lab measures glucose levels using a specialized method that detects sugar in your serum. The results are compared to standard reference ranges to assess your glucose control.
What the Results Mean
Results show your glucose levels at different times. High levels may indicate diabetes or poor insulin function, while consistently low levels could suggest hypoglycemia or other metabolic issues. Your provider will interpret these results in the context of your overall health.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
This test helps diagnose diabetes, assess how well diabetes treatments are working, and identify conditions like reactive hypoglycemia or prediabetes. It’s also useful for people with known diabetes to monitor trends in their glucose levels over time.
Short name
24-Hour Serum Glucose Profile
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have this test?
What do my glucose levels mean if they’re high or low?
Can I eat or drink anything before the test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy