CSF Culture*

Important Note

*This test is orderable in Cerner as Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid
Container/Tube (Preferred): Sterile vials
Specimen Volume: 1-2 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Collect specimen by lumbar puncture
Specimen Transport Temperature: Ambient

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient

Reference Values

Normal Referane Ranges: Negative

Critical value: Positive

Day(s) Performed

Daily. Gram stain is performed STAT.

Analytical Time:

3 days

Performing Laboratory

Rutland Regional Medical Center Laboratory

Methodology

Culture/Gram Stain

Test Classification and CPT Coding

CPT: 87070 -Culture

87205-Gram stain

LOINC: 606-4

Special Instructions

Microbiology Specimen Collection Guidelines