Examining a diluted CSF specimen involves the following steps:

• Mix the CSF sample manually 6 - 10 times or place it on a mechanical mixer for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Use a calibrated automatic pipet and place the appropriate volume of sample and diluent in a tube. Mix the diluted sample well.
• Use a Pasteur pipet and fill both sides of the hemacytometer. Allow the cells to settle for 5 minutes in a moist environment.
• Count cells in the four corner squares and the center square on both sides of the chamber. The number of cells counted times the dilution factor is then equal to the number of cells per microliter.