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Cerebrospinal Fluid

Lumbar puncture, Ventricular tap fluid, Brain fluid, Cerebral shunt fluid, Cerebrospinal fluid, CSF, CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL (NON-GYN)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6797

Department

Cytology

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: 2.0 mL Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in a sterile CSF collection tube. (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

• Label the collection tube with the EPIC specimen label with patient's full name, date of birth, medical record number, source of specimen, and date of test.
• It is strongly recommended to separate the specimen into individual tubes and to submit each container to the appropriate laboratory. (i.e. hematology, chemistry, cytology etc.)
• In house cytology specimens should be ordered in EPIC order entry. In the “additional orders” field input “CYTOLOGY, MEDICAL NON-GYN” and fill in all appropriate fields. Label specimen container and requisition with EPIC specimen labels.
• All Cytology specimens must be accompanied by a requisition and must include the patient name, medical record and visit/CSN number, date of birth, date of specimen collection, pertinent patient history, ordering physician name and source of specimen. Place EPIC specimen label on requisition.
• For all CSF specimen collection details please see the Specimen Collection Manual.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

CSF specimens should be submitted to the Cytology Laboratory fresh. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the unfixed specimen prior to transport. Do not add preservatives to the specimen. (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL CSF in a sterile CSF collection tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Improper labeling of specimen container or requisition.
• Specimen not accompanied by requisition.
• Requisitions not accompanied by a specimen.
• Improper collection of specimen (such as improper fixation).
• Specimens dried up in a cup or frozen.
• Specimens delivered to the lab over a week after the collection date.
• Any specimen received without all the required information will result in a delay of processing until all information can be verified.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Farmington Hills

• Deliver the specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (2nd floor, East) Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Endoscopy, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• When the Cytology Laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to Laboratory Central Processing.

Grosse Pointe

• Deliver the specimen directly to the AP Laboratory (first level) Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical floors and Clinical Pathology Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.GP surgical specimens are picked up from the main OR every 2 ½ hours. Endoscopy specimens are delivered to the AP lab throughout the day.
• When the  AP Laboratory is closed, specimens may be delivered to the Clinical Pathology Specimen Processing area. Specimens are to be placed in the fridge closest to the door after hours.

Royal Oak

• Deliver specimen directly to the Cytology Laboratory (north tower, lower level, west wing) Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 4:30 pm.
• Deliver CSF specimens to STAT Lab (3^rd Floor Central Tower).

Troy

• All specimens must be hand-delivered to the Specimen Reception department phone number: 248-964-8615.
  

Dearborn:

• Deliver the specimen to the main lab drop off window and sign in. Open 24/7.
• Deliver directly to Cytology: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm 
• Specimens are also picked up throughout the day from the surgical area and endoscopy:  Monday – Friday 6:00 am – 4:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
  
• When the Cytology lab is closed specimens must be delivered to the main lab window and signed in.

Taylor:

• Deliver to histology 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
• After hours:  Deliver the specimen to the main lab. Open 24/7.

Trenton:

• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept., Interventional Radiology, and operating rooms from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
• After hours deliver specimens to the main lab. Open 24/7.

Wayne:  

• Specimens are picked up from Emergency Dept. and Interventional Radiology from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm.
• After hours deliver specimen to the main lab. Open 24/7. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Specimen must be refrigerated immediately upon procurement.
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable 

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Cytology Laboratory
Taylor, Trenton and Wayne specimens are sent to Dearborn Cytology Laboratory for preparation, screening and issuing final results. 

Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory
Grosse Pointe and Farmington Hills specimens are sent to Royal Oak Cytology Laboratory for preparation and screening. Final results are issued by originating hospital.

Troy Cytology Laboratory 

Performed

Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 4:30 pm. (Royal Oak).
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (Farmington Hills).
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. (Troy).
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Grosse Pointe)
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm (Dearborn)
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Taylor)
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Trenton)
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm (Wayne) 

Most results are available within 24-48 hours of receipt in the Cytology Laboratory if received Monday – Friday. The Cytology Laboratory is closed on weekends and holidays. Specimens received after 3:00 pm on Friday will be processed the following Monday and resulted on Tuesday Specimens received after 3:00 pm the day before a holiday will be processed the next working day and resulted out the following day. 

Test Methodology

Microscopic evaluation of cytospin preparations. 

CPT Codes

CPT: 88108.
LOINC: 33716-2. 

Contacts

Last Updated

9/27/2022