Procedure for Culture Specimen Processing: CSF and other body fluids

Body fluids collected aseptically (cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid) can be inoculated into MGIT medium without decontamination (with the addition of PANTA). However, since it is difficult to maintain sterile conditions throughout the collection of specimens, it is recommended that all specimens be decontaminated. 

Aseptically collected specimens need only light decontamination (NALC without NaOH). Steps for processing such specimens are:

• Large volume samples (>10 ml) are concentrated by centrifugation at 3000x - 3500x g (15-20 minutes).
• N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC) powder (50-100 mg) is added to thick/ mucoid specimens prior to centrifugation.
• Resuspend the sediment in 5 ml saline.
• Decontaminate as per the procedure for sputum samples.

The processed specimen is used to inoculate the MGIT tubes.

Resources

• MGIT Procedure Manual, Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) Culture and Drug Susceptibility Demonstration Projects, FIND Training Manual.

Kindly provide your valuable feedback on the page to the link provided HERE