Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

CSF samples from babies under three months are also routinely tested on the BioFire FilmArray® multiplex PCR (Detects: E.coli, CMV, Enterovirus, S.pneumoniae, HHV6, HSV1, HSV2, N.meningitidis, S.agalactiae, C.gatii, C.neoformans, H.influenzae, VZV, L.monocytogenes and Parechovirus.).

Samples from other patient groups will only be tested when certain criteria are met.

In some cases, further investigations may be necessary and should be discussed with the Microbiology medical staff.

These may include mycobacterial (TB) stain and culture, cryptococcal antigen, fungal culture and PCR.

When CSF is received from a patient with a CNS device, prolonged culture is performed to increase the yield of less virulent bacteria. Please record this in the clinical details section of the EPR request.

For CJD studies please see Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

If you are sending a CSF that is urgent, please contact us before sending.

Sample type

Cerebrospinal fluid

Specimen requirements

CSF should be sent in a sterile universal container, ideally bottles 1 and 3 which will be clearly labelled as such

The site of collection should be made clear: indicate whether from a lumbar or ventricular puncture, a lumbar or ventricular drain or a shunt

Minimum volume

• Routine testing - 0.5ml
• Mycobacterial (TB) culture - 5ml ideally
• Further testing - 0.5-5ml, depending on number and type of tests required: discuss with Microbiology medical staff
  

Frequency of test

Daily

Turnaround time

• Cell count and Gram stain - less than 4 hours
• Routine culture - 3 days
• Prolonged culture (device associated) - 11 days

What to request on EPR

CSF MCS, CSF Virus PCR