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Course: Clinical Analysis
Lecturer: Dr. Weam Saad
Lecture: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Analysis
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) is the fluid that moves in the space around
the spinal cord and brain
(fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord), CSF
protects the brain and spinal cord from injury. This fluid sample is used for
diagnosis of many central nervous system diseases CNS infections e.g.
meningitis and encephalitis.
There are only two tests ordered for this sample:
1. CSF smear
2. CSF culture
1.CSF smear:
Also named Spinal fluid smear, prepared like sputum smear and staining,
but the smears are examined by specialist physician
in Cytopathology.
2.CSF culture:
CSF culture ordered when the physician suspected with bacterial
neurological infection like bacterial meningitis. The same Routine culture
procedure of any other clinical sample culture can be followed. The most
common bacterial pathogens are:
Neisseria meningitides
Heamophilus influenza
Streptococcus pneumonia
Streptococcus pyogenes
Enterobacteriaceae
Listeria monocytogenes
Also the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and several viruses can
cause meningitis too.