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

Exercise 27

A total CSF cell count on a clear fluid should be:

A. Reported as normal

B. Not reported

C. Diluted with normal saline

D. Counted undiluted

Step 1 of 2

Total CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) cell count:

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

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

• Clear CSF specimens are counted without dilution, because overlapping of cells is not noticed during microscopic examination of clear specimen

Therefore, total CSF cell count in clear fluid is “counted undiluted”. Hence, the correct answer is option.