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Test Code LAB268 CSF Culture

Infectious

Clinical System Name

CSF Culture

Synonyms

Cerebral Spinal Fluid

Lumbar Puncture Fluid

CSF

LAB268

Sample Requirements

Specimen: Cerebrospinal Fluid

Container: Sterile Container

Preferred Vol: 1 mL

Minimum Vol: 0.2 mL

Processing Instructions

 

CPA: Send all tubes to Microbiology for processing. If only one tube or syringe is collected, affix shared sample label and send entire sample to Microbiology.

 

Off-site collection: Off-site Children's Lab locations should set up culture. Culture must be set up before remaining sample is refrigerated for courier pickup. Place culture plates in CO2 pouch and incubate until courier pickup.

 

Other off-site locations, keep sample at room temperature.

Stability

Temp Time
Room temp 1 hour
Refrigerated N
Frozen N

 

Availability

Procedure Performed Turn Around Time (TAT)
Gram Stain 24/7

1 hour
Culture 24/7 2 - 9 days

Gram Stains on sterile fluids are performed STAT with a TAT of 1 hour.

Cultures are read at appropriate intervals to detect early bacterial growth. STAT culture requests are not applicable.
 

Final incubation time is dependent on the Gram stain results.  See Reporting Information section for additional information.

 

Performing Laboratory

Seattle Children's Laboratory

 

Department

Microbiology Laboratory

CPT Codes

87070

87205

This test is not limited to the CPT codes listed.  Others may be added as more testing is necessary and depending on the pathogens isolated (example: MIC's and ID codes)

Description

Includes Bacterial Culture and Gram Stain. Specimen cultured for Aerobic and Anaerobic bacteria.

For Shunt Fluid or Omaya Reservoir fluid order CSF Culture, Shunt Associated for extended culture incubation.

Reporting Information

Any growth on a sterile fluid is considered positive and reported.

 

Preliminary Report:  18 - 24 hours

Negative Final Report: 2 - 9 days

 

No Growth cultures are typically held for 7 days.

Notifiable Result

Neisseria meningitidis is immediately notifiable to the County Health Department

 

See Link below for Notifiable Conditions for WA state labs:

https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-healthcare-providers/notifiable-conditions

 

See Link below for PDF of phone numbers for Local Health jurisdictions (by County) in WA State:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1200/LHJCommunicableDiseaseReporting.pdf