CSF C/S and Microscopy Test

CSF C/S and Microscopy or Culture and Sensitivity test takes place on a CSF sample to measure the extent and level of infection in the Central Nervous System. The test mainly confirms CNS infection not only before the treatment, but also during as well as after the treatment procedure.

You should intimate your pathologist and doctor in case you take any medicine or experience any underlying health condition and allergies before you undergo for the test. In case of CSF C/S and Microscopy test through blood, you should wear half sleeves while appearing for the test. You should intake normal diet but make sure to avoid any alcoholic beverage or junk food before few hours of your test (whether via saliva, blood, urine or any other form). Other than this, if your doctor gives you any specific instruction, you should make sure to follow it properly.

CSF C/S and Microscopy test analysis has found its wide usage in the diagnosis of many health conditions and diseases, which affect the central nervous system consisting of brain and spinal cord of human beings. These may be of four different categories- Infectious diseases, which may cause from viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, while to differentiate them from any other health condition To detect various infections nearby or of the spinal cord To identify fever associated with any unknown origin Bleeding within the skull or brain of a person Detection of various autoimmune disorders Presence of any primary tumor present in the central nervous system or its spread to the central nervous system (known as metastatic cancer)

Doctors perform CSF C/S and Microscopy test on different fluids of your body, which include mucus, urine, pus, blood, breast milk, saliva, spinal fluid and discharge obtained from penis and vagina. Steps involved are- Pathologists collect a sample of approximately 2ml to 10ml of body tissue or fluid to a specific substance responsible for promoting the growth of various germs.

Next, they check detect the state of the germs i.e. when germs causing infection grow, they identify the culture as positive, while in case of no growth in germs, they conclude the culture as negative one. Pathologists use microscope or various chemical tests to identify the germ. Bacteria often grow within only 2 days, while others, including fungi may take relatively more time to grow in human body.