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HelpTest Code CFC CSF Culture
Specimen Type
Cerebrospinal fluid
Collection Volume
2 mL
Minimum Collection Volume
1 mL
Collection Instructions
Specimens should be transported immediately to the Clinical Laboratory. Contamination with normal flora from skin or other body surfaces must be avoided. Whenever possible, tubes should be numbered 1, 2, and 3 — with 1 being the first tube collected. Extreme care must be taken in handling CSF specimens, so as to avoid spillage, contamination, and delay in sending to the laboratory.
Rejection Criteria
Specimen not received in appropriate sterile container; Specimen older than 2 hours; Refrigerated specimens; Incomplete requisition or unlabelled specimen. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the nursing station will be called and another specime
Specimen Storage and Stability
Room Temperature – Do NOT refrigerate. Specimens should be transported to the North Campus Laboratory ASAP.
Turn Around Time
Preliminary reports are available at 2 days. Final at 7 days. Reports of cultures from which pathogens are isolated require a minimum of 48 hours for completion. Physician or nursing station will be notified of preliminary positive results immediately.
Lab Department
Microbiology
Alias
CSF Culture; Culture, Cerebrospinal Fluid; Spinal Fluid Culture; Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture;
EPIC Code
LAB2051
Acceptable Collection Container
Sterile tube
Patient Preparation
Sterile preparation of aspiration site. Avoid contamination with normal flora from surrounding body surfaces.
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday, 24 hours