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Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Test Code 32A Cell Count Spinal Fluid

Additional Codes

ALAB: CELLCTSF

PowerChart: Cell Count with Differential CSF

MA Cerner: CSF Cell Count w/ Diff.

Test Method

Hemacytometer Counting Chamber and Microscopy

Specimen Requirement

1 mL of spinal fluid is required.

Additional Specimen Collection Information

Clotted specimens are not acceptable for spinal fluid cell counts.

  • Wright Stain or Gram Stain: Perform a "Cytospin" on the sample as soon as possible. Do not use anticoagulant and do not refrigerate the sample. In lieu of Cytospin a traditional direct smear Wright or Gram Stain is performed.
  • Cytology: A Wright Stained Cytospin slide is sent to the Cytology Department at Mercy.

Performance

Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.

Routine orders: Typically completed within 4 hours after the specimen arrives at the testing site.

Expedite orders: Typically completed within 2 hours after the specimen arrives at the testing site.

STAT orders: Typically completed within 1.5 hours after the specimen arrives at the testing site.

Reference Values

WBC: 0-5 Mononuclear cells/mm3

RBC: 0 cells/mm3

 

A Methylene Blue Stain is performed if the total polynuclear (neutrophil) cells counted are greater than 5/mm3

CPT Code Information

89051 Other Pathology Services: Cell Count, miscellaneous body fluids, except blood; with differential count

Useful For

These counts are used as clinical guides in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of diseases processes.

LOINC Code Information

34563-7 Cell Count Panel-Cerebral Spinal Fluid (Manual)

Bloody CSF specimens may be run through the automated method; if so:

57845-0 Leukocytes [#Volume] In Body Fluid By Automated Count

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