Specimen Required

Specimen must be received in laboratory within 24 hours of collection.

Specimen source is required.

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile vial

Specimen Volume: > 0.5 ml (1-2 ml preferred)

Collection Instructions:

1. If 4 CSF tubes collected label tubes by writing tube number on the label in the following order:

Tube 1: Protein and Glucose

Tube 2. Cell count with differential

Tube 3: Culture and Gram stain

Tube 4: Other testing

2. Label vials with patient's name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen and order in which tubes were collected.