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Culture and Gram Stain, Aerobic, CSF
Test CodeCXCSF
Alias/See Also
Epic: LAB268
Includes
Gram Stain and Aerobic Bacterial Culture
Note: If anaerobic culture is required it must be ordered separately. Anaerobic organisms are rarely isolated from CSF specimens
Preferred Specimen
Specimen Type: Spinal fluid
Collection Container: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Neonate: 0.2 mL
Instructions
- For the highest diagnostic sensitivity, collect the initial CSF sample prior to antimicrobial therapy.
- Use sterile collection technique and disinfect puncture site prior to collection.
- Submit collection tubes 2 or 3 for culture.
Transport Container
Sterile container
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: Not defined
Frozen: Not defined
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Leaking specimens, insufficient volume for number of tests ordered.
Methodology
Bacterial culture, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for positive growth.
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Final negative cultures reported at 4-5 days
Reference Range
Negative for Growth
Clinical Significance
Growth of a microorganism may indicate an infectious cause of symptoms. If very light growth/growth in liquid media only is seen and the organism is generally considered skin flora (ex. Coagulase negative Staphylococci, Corynebacterium) consider sample collection technique and the patients clinical status when interpreting results.
Performing Laboratory
Inova Laboratories
2832 Juniper Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Last Updated: April 19, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, April 19, 2023