Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture Explained

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is a diagnostic procedure that involves collecting a sample of CSF from a patient to detect the presence of bacteria or other infectious agents. Once the clinical physician collects the CSF, it is typically injected directly into a specialized blood culture bottle in the lab. This sample must be handled quickly and efficiently to preserve its integrity.

The Process of CSF Culture

After the sample is collected and placed in the culture bottle, it is immediately transported to the microbiology laboratory. There, the specimen is placed in an automated incubation system designed to support the growth of microorganisms that may be present in the CSF. The system monitors the sample continuously for signs of microbial growth over a period of approximately five days.

Interpreting the Results

If the system does not detect any microbial growth within the five-day window, the result is generally reported as negative, indicating no infection-causing organisms were found. However, if the patient has a central nervous system infection, the system will typically detect positive growth during the incubation period.

Once a positive result is flagged, laboratory technicians perform additional tests to identify the specific pathogen responsible for the infection. Following identification, a susceptibility test—also known as an antibiotic sensitivity test—is conducted to determine which antibiotics are most effective against the particular organism.