Category
ROUTINE CHEMISTRY
Sub Category
FLUID ANALYSIS
Synonym/Aliases
ROUTINE EXAMINATION, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID; ROUTINE EXAMINATION, SPINAL FLUID; CSF ANALYSIS; SPINAL FLUID ANALYSIS.
Abbreviations
- N/A
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS)
Results
RESULTS READY WITHIN 2 WORKING DAYS
Method
MACROSCOPIC, MICROSCOPIC & BIOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF CSF.
Temp
SAMPLE KEPT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE N/A; 2-8ºC 3 DAYS; FROZEN 30 DAYS.
Setup
ALL WORKING DAYS
Components Parameters
VISUAL EXAMINATION, BIOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION (TOTAL PROTEIN, GLUCOSE), MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION (RBC & WBC CELL COUNTS; GRAM STAIN, INDIA INK PREPARATION).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
- N/A
Sample type
CSF
Container/ preservative
STERILE CONTAINER
Sample volume
AT LEAST 3ML DIVIDED BETWEEN 3-4 TUBES (≥1 ML PER TUBE).
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CSF SHOULD IDEALLY BE COLLECTED IN MULTIPLE TUBES LABELED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLLECTION SEQUENCE. WHEN THIS IS DONE, TUBE 1 IS USED FOR BIOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION, TUBE 2 FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTS & THE LAST TUBE DRAWN (TUBE 3/ 4) IS USED FOR CELL COUNTS.
Reference intervals
AS PER THE LATEST AMERICAN DIABETIC ASSOCIATION (ADA) CONSENSUS CRITERIA
Clinical Utility
ASSESSMENT OF SUSPECTED CNS DISORDERS E.G. MENINGOENCEPHALITIS, HEMORRHAGE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, INVOLVEMENT BY CANCERS LIKE LEUKEMIAS ETC.
Test Limitations / Confounders
DOES NOT INCLUDE CULTURE & SENSITIVITY. FOR THIS, AN ADDITIONAL SEPARATE ORDER MUST BE SPECIFIED.