CSF Culture

Specimen Required

In a sterile conical CSF collection tube.

Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL (per test ordered)

Specimen Stability Information

Transport at room temperature. Specimen must be received within 2 hours of collection. *NOTE* Specimens that do not meet the above criteria will be rejected.

Special Instructions

CSF specimens must be collected prior to the start of antimicrobial therapy. The skin must be disinfected with an antiseptic solution in the area to be sampled. If tests other than culture are requested, the microbiology sample should be collected after the first few milliliters are drawn (tube 2 or higher). The specimen must be transported immediately to the laboratory. Any delay could cause loss of fastidious organisms in the sample. Specimens should never be refrigerated. Exam includes cytospin smear (gram stain) and susceptibility testing, when appropriate, for the isolates recovered. Specimen is also acceptable for AFB, fungal and viral cultures, if sufficient volume is obtained.

Performing Laboratory

As ordered. Turn around time is 5 days.