Test Code SCCSF CSF Culture
Additional Codes
| St. Luke's | SCCSF |
| Epic ID | LAB268 |
Specimen Requirements
1. Submit 1 mL of spinal fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container or capped syringe. Do not refrigerate prior to culturing.
2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
3. Includes Gram Stain.
Note: 1. Indicate specimen source on specimen container and in computer.
2. At time of order indicate if spinal fluid was collected from a shunt in the Special Request section of the order.
NOTE: Whenever possible, cultures should be ordered on tube 2 or tube 3, since they are less likely to be contaminated with normal skin flora than tube 1.
Transport at room temperature. Stable for 48 hours.
Performing Laboratory
St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids
Methodology
Culture with Identification by Conventional Methods
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
5 days
Reference Values
No growth
Critical value: all positives
Test Classification and CPT Coding
87070-Culture
87205-Gram stain