Question

When three tubes of cerebrospinal fluid are received in the laboratory they should be distributed to the various laboratory sections in which order?

Answer 1

When three tubes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are received in the laboratory, they should be distributed in the order of visual examination, microscopic examination, and centrifugation and culture.

Step-by-step explanation:

When three tubes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are received in the laboratory, they should be distributed to the various laboratory sections in the following order:

1. Visual examination: The tubes should first be visually examined to determine whether the CSF is abnormally colored or cloudy.
2. Microscopic examination: The CSF should be examined under a microscope to check for a normal number of red and white blood cells and to detect any abnormal cell types.
3. Centrifugation and culture: A portion of the CSF sample should be centrifuged to concentrate any cells in a sediment. This sediment can then be smeared on a slide, stained, and examined for the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi.