Cerebral Spinal Fluid Culture

Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture

CSF

Microbiology

CSF

Sterile CSF conical tubes

• Tube 1- Chemistry
• Tube 2- Cytology
• Tube 3- Microbiology (Microbiology is x4 tubes collected)
• Tube 4- Haematology 

The last tube collected will be processed for the cell count

Lumbar Puncture

Clean the puncture site with antiseptic solution and alcohol before needle insertion. Insert a needle with stylet at the L3-L4, L4-L5 or L5-LS interspace. When subarachnoid space is reached, remove stylet and spinal fluid will appear in the needle hub. Slowly drain CSF into sterile tubes.

Shunt Fluid

Clean the reservoir site with antiseptic solution and alcohol. Collect fluid through the reservoir unit and place it in a sterile tube.
Indicate method of collection on requisition.

Suggested Volumes:

• Routine Culture (C&S) - 2 mL
• Fungus Culture - 2 mL
• Mycobacterium Culture - 2 mL
• Virus Culture - 2 mL

Gram stain results will be called to the physician as soon as it is available. As growth is detected and identified the information is made available to the health care provider.

• Do NOT refrigerate CSF ( Microbiology Tube)
• If the specimen is taken STAT (after hours), if the CSF has a white blood cell count of greater than 10 or elevated protein or decreased glucose, it is considered an abnormal screen and a technologist will be called back to process the specimen, otherwise the specimen will be processed at 7:00am the following morning.
• Always send the most turbid tube to Microbiology.
• Specimen description and total quantity will be recorded for the CSF
• The supernatant /extra specimen will be frozen in the -70'C freezer for approximately 6 months after processing.
• CSF samples are "precious samples" and should not be rejected.

The specimen should be delivered to the laboratory STAT, with no delay and should not be transported through the automated delivery system.

If after hours and no call-back is initiated the specimen should be stored at room temperature in the STAT container.

On site, BGH Laboratory