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HelpTest Code CCSF Cerebrospinal Fluid Cell Count
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid
Preferred Specimen: sterile container
Other Acceptable specimens: not applicable
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. Specimens must be received within 2 hours. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimens prior to transport.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Frozen or heated specimens will be rejected
- Quantity not sufficient specimens are not suitable for testing and will be rejected
- Clotted specimen are not suitable for testing. Testing may be attempted, but not all results may be reported.
Reference Values
|
Analyte |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Nucleated cells CSF |
12 years and up |
Male and female |
0 – 5 /uL |
|
Nucleated cells CSF |
4 years |
Male and female |
0 – 10 /uL |
|
Nucleated cells CSF |
1 year |
Male and female |
0 – 20 /uL |
|
Nucleated cells CSF |
0 days |
Male and female |
0 – 30 /uL |
|
RBC CSF |
All |
Male and female |
0 /uL |
|
CSF neutrophil percent |
2 months |
Male and female |
0 – 6 % |
|
CSF neutrophil percent |
0 days |
Male and female |
0 – 8 % |
|
CSF lymphocyte percent |
2 months |
Male and female |
40 – 80 % |
|
CSF lymphocyte percent |
0 days |
Male and female |
5 -35 % |
|
CSF monocyte percent |
2 months |
Male and female |
15 – 45 % |
|
CSF monocyte percent |
0 days |
Male and female |
50 – 90 % |
|
CSF eosinophil percent |
All |
Male and female |
0 % |
|
CSF basophil percent |
All |
Male and female |
0 % |
Critical Values
|
Analyte |
Unit |
Low |
High |
Age |
|
Intracellular organisms and intracellular or extracellular parasites in: blood, CSF, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid (paracentesis), pleural fluid, synovial fluid; intracellular and extracellular yeast and pneumocystis in BAL. |
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Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: 120 minutes
Routine Turnaround Time: 480 minutes
Testing Schedule: 24/7
CPT Codes
89051
LOINC Codes
CAPP 10333-3, CTOT 19075-1, CWBC 26465-5, CRBC 792-2, CNEU 26512-4, CEOS 12208-5, CLYM 10328-3, CMON 10329-1, CBAS 13519-4, CPLA 51385-3
Volume
Preferred Volume: 3.0 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Stability
|
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
|
Room temperature (20 - 25°C) |
2 hours |
|
Refrigerated (2 - 10°C) |
2 hours |
|
Frozen (-20°C) |
not acceptable |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Test Components
WBC, RBC, and total cell counts, WBC differential, pathologist interpretation if requested
Clinical Indications
- Information concerning infection disease processes, cerebral hemorrhage, malignant diseases, etc. may be obtained from the cell count and differential.
Methodology
Glocyte Automated CSF cell counter and manual hemocytometer method, Wright stain and light microscopy
Synonyms/Search Keywords
CSF count, cell count CSF
Additional Information
Not applicable
Last Reviewed Date
8/12/2024