CSF protects the brain and spinal cord from injury by acting like a liquid cushion.
CSF is usually obtained through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
During the procedure, a needle is inserted usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae and the CSF fluid is collected for testing..
Specimen: CSF specimens are obtained at lumbar puncture.
Alternative collection methods include cisternal puncture, shunt aspirations or ventricular sampling (intraoperatively or transfontanelle)..
This is usually done with a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap).
The sample is sent to a laboratory.
There, a tiny amount is spread on a glass slide.
Laboratory staff then views the sample under a microscope..
However, cerebrospinal fluid also contains cells, namely a special selection of blood-derived lymphocytes and monocytes.
These cells are capable of crossing the blood–CSF barrier (BCSFB) of the choroid plexus, which allows minimal entry of immune cells and macromolecules, such as antibodies, in steady-state [6]..
CSF analysis can be used to diagnose certain neurologic disorders.
These may include infections (such as meningitis) and brain or spinal cord damage.
A spinal tap may also be done to establish the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus or bleeding into the spinal fluid from an aneurysm..
Background: Flow cytometry of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is used in isolation or as an adjunct to cytology to increase the sensitivity of detecting central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma..
An increase of white blood cells indicates infection, inflammation, or bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid.
Some causes include:
What is the normal percentage of lymphocytes in CSF.
Normal WBC count in CSF is < 5 cells/µl.
In differential count, mononuclear cells should predominate (60-70% of it being small lymphocytes and 30-40% monocytes) and only occasional mature neutrophils are found (< 1%, excluding blood contamination).
Elevation of nucleated cells in the CSF is called pleocytosis.
