Background: Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer in India with relative proportion varying between 25 and 40%. 60 to 85% of all leukemias reported are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Karyotyping is a technique that provides critical diagnostic and prognostic information that allows the delivery of appropriate treatment. Success rate depends on sample conditions, type of disease and culture conditions. Aim: To compare efficacy of culture methods at varying times in karyotyping for genetic abnormalities of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Materials and Methods: Bone marrow aspirates (0.6 ml) after adding 15 ml RPMI medium were divided into three parts for immediate(direct) culture, 24 hour culture and 48 hour culture method , were incubated according to their respective time duration and karyotyping was done. Result: In immediate culture, there were very few small sized cells with no metaphases. In 24 hour culture, cells had a moderate population with no analysable metaphases. In 48 hour culture, cell population was high with bigger sized cells and 20 or more metaphases were observed per slide. Conclusion: 48 hours culture method is better than immediate and 24 hour culture in ALL patients.