Increases microbial recovery and time to detection by neutralizing antibiotic effect, increasing surface of attachment for bacteria to grow, mechanical action to break up RBC and WBC to release intracellular bacteria, binding blood components that target bacterial cells, binding toxic substances from cellular growth
2. Decant the supernatant into a sterile tube leaving approximately 0.5 ml of fluid to suspend the sediment
3. Supernatant can be used for antigen testing for rapid diagnostic tests that detects polysaccharide capsular antigen of H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, and S. pneumoniae
4. The supernatant should be kept even if it has o use
5. Make a smear by putting a drop of CSF on the center of the slide and allow it to dry