Specimen Requirements

Physician’s office and/or hospital personnel are responsible for collecting spinal fluid as follows:

1. Send 0.5 mL to 10 mL of fresh spinal fluid or spinal fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Prefixation with alcohol is not recommended for spinal fluid, because alcohol may precipitate protein present in the fluid specimen.

3. Deliver to Laboratory immediately. Keep specimen refrigerated

Note:  1. The following specimens will be returned to the submitting physician:
A. Spilled specimen
B. No requisition form
C. Name on requisition does not match name on specimen
D. Unlabeled specimen
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and source/site of specimen.

3. Please complete and submit an “Anatomic Pathology Request Form” form # 320-1415

A. Admitting diagnosis

B. History and prior diagnostic procedures

C. Evidence of primary or metastatic tumor in the central nervous system

D. Documented lymphoma, leukemia, or other malignancy elsewhere in the body

E. Presence of a ventricular shunt

F. Radiotherapy

4. Place specimen in a plastic specimen bag with request form inserted into pocket separate from specimen.