Specimen processing for CSF

1. Cytocentrifugation at 1500g for 15 mins
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
6. Heat fix the smear or use methanol to fix