Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 1 hour of collection.

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid

Container/Tube: Screw-capped, sterile tubes

Specimen Volume: 3 mL divided into 3 tubes each containing 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Label tubes with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, initials of person collecting specimen, and order in which tubes were collected.

Additional Information:

1. If 4 CSF tubes collected, label tubes by writing the 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. Some constituents in spinal fluid deteriorate rapidly so analysis must be performed immediately.
3. If malignant cells are encountered, a cytology report will be issued.