Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

CSF is a clear liquid produced in the ventricles of the brain; fills and protects cavities in the brain and spinal cord. The fluid is stainless. When collecting, CSF, make sure that all necessary precaution is adhere to, to avoid contaminating the sample. CSF is often sent to clinical laboratory for analysis of protein, glucose and some other few investigation. When collecting CSF for glucose estimation, the sample must be collected into a dry container with fluoride oxalate in the container as a preservative, the function of the fluoride oxalate is to prevent glycolysis that may take place in the sample when sample is keep without analysis for sometimes. If there will be waste of time in term of investigation, the sample can also be collected into a plain container, then kept in the refrigerator, pending when the investigation is to be done, but definitely should not be more than 24 hours.

CSF is often collected from lumber vertebrae, be informed that these procedure of collection is very delicate, as such emergency treatment should follow immediately after collection. The investigation of CSF is done by microbiology and biochemistry department, as such the sample is share between these departments, for the interest of the patient, it is advisable for the two department to cooperate with each other.

Clinical chemistry specimen; quantities, Investigation and remarks