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Test Code SFC CSF Culture & Stain

Important Note

Random Collections ONLY.
NO preservatives or additives or sample will be rejected.

Optimal transport time < 2 hrs

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Cerebral spinal fluid (includes CSF shunt, ventricular fluid or shunt)

Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container

Volume

Preferred Volume: 4-5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL (adults and pediatric)

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

24 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 not acceptable

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Skin decontamination with Chloraprep.


Specimen Transport: Immediate

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.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, incorrect collection container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Culture

All

All

No Growth
Stain All All No organisms seen

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: Graim stain only - 1 hour

Routine Turnaround Time: 72 hours

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infections.
  • In cases of meningitis, certain bacterial pathogens correlate with specificage groups, such as
    • Neonates - Escherichia coli, Group B streptococci
    • Children - Haemophilus influenzae
    • Young adults - Neisseria meningitidis
    • Elderly, alcoholics - Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Other pathogens to be considered are: Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Methodology

Conventional culture on media

CPT Codes

87015, 87070, 87205

LOINC Codes

30687015, 31387070, 30687205

Synonyms/Keyword Search

CSF CX/ST, LP, BACTERIAL CULTURE, CULTURE

Last Review Date

02/13/2026

Critical Values

Test

 Result

Culture

Growth
Stain Positive