Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 25

A CSF WBC count is diluted with:

A. Distilled water

B. Normal saline

C. Acetic acid

D. Hypotonic saline

Step 1 of 2

CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) WBC (White Blood Cell) count:

Routinely executed cell count on CSF specimen is white blood cells (leukocyte) count.

• Cell count of WBC should be performed immediately, because granulocytes (WBC) lyse within 1 hour, and 40% of WBC lyse after 2 hours

• To count WBCs in CSF specimen RBCs (Red Blood Cells) should be lysed

• To dilute the specimen in WBC count 3% glacial acetic acid is used to lyse the RBC

• Methylene blue is added to diluting fluid to stain WBCs

Therefore, a CSF WBC count is diluted with “acetic acid”. Hence, the correct answer is option.