Alternate Names: Culture - CSF (cerebral spinal fluid)

How Performed: The CSF is usually obtained through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

The culture is done in the lab. The fluid is rubbed on a special laboratory preparation for the examination and is allowed to grow.

How To Prepare: Preparation is the same as for a lumbar puncture. You must sign a consent form. You must be prepared to remain in the hospital for at least the 6 to 8 hours that you must remain flat.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child’s age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child’s age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How It Feels: The position may be uncomfortable, but it is imperative that you remain in the curled position to avoid moving the needle and possibly injuring the spinal cord.

The scrub will feel cold and wet. The anesthetic will sting or burn when first injected. There will be a hard pressure sensation when the needle is inserted, and there is usually some brief pain when the needle goes through the meninges. This pain should stop in a few seconds. Overall, discomfort is minimal to moderate. The entire procedure usually takes about 30 minutes but may take longer. The actual pressure measurements and fluid collection only takes a few minutes.

Risks:

• Risks of lumbar puncture include:
  • hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
  • discomfort during the test
  • headache after the test
  • bleeding into the spinal canal
• brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure), and resulting in brain damage and/or death
• damage to the spinal cord (particularly if the person moves during the test)

Why Performed: The culture helps identify fungus, virus, or bacteria that are present.

Normal Values: No organism growth (negative) is normal.

Abnormal Results: Some growth of fungus, virus, or bacteria occurs (positive); indicating meningitis or other infections. The culture will determine the type of organisms present in the CSF.

See also:

• anthrax
• aseptic meningitis
• brucellosis
• cryptococcosis
• inhalation anthrax
• meningitis gram negative
• meningitis, cryptococcal
• meningitis, H. influenza
• meningitis, meningococcal
• meningitis, pneumococcal
• meningitis; staphylococcal
• meningitis; tuberculous
• myelomeningocele (children)

Cost:

Special Considerations: Not applicable.