Identifying the types of white blood cells present in CSF provides important information for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, a well-prepared CSF slide is crucial.
The slide for microscopic examination should be made from the same sample tube as the tube used for the cell count. The slide should be clearly labeled to ensure positive patient identification.
A slide for microscopic examination of CSF should be made using a cytocentrifugation technique (cytospin). Alternate methods of slide preparation, such as concentration of cells by traditional centrifugation and manual smear methods, are not recommended as morphologies may not be maintained and sufficient cells may not be present on the slide for accurate evaluation of the sample.
Stain the slides with Wright or Wright-Giemsa stain and perform differential counts.
