Specimen Requirements

2 mL of spinal fluid collected from lumbar puncture using aseptic technique. Divide spinal fluid into 4 screw-capped, sterile vials each containing 0.5 mL and send refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Testing will be performed on collection tubes as follows:

Tube 1:  hold

Tube 2:  culture, protein, and glucose

Tube 3:  cell count and differential

Tube 4:  hold