Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis Archives

What are the characteristic CSF findings in inflammatory and malignant conditions?

Opening Pressure (cm/H2O) Appearance RBC(per mm3) WCC(per mm3) Cell Differential Protein(g/L) Oligoclonal Bands Glucose-Serum Ratio Lactate(mmol/L) Normal 5-20 Clear, colourless <3 <5 Usually lymphocytes and monocytes 0.2-0.4 Absent 0.5-0.66(2.5-3.5 mmol/L)...

What are the characteristic CSF findings in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)? How can this be differentiated from a ‘traumatic tap’?

Opening Pressure (cm/H2O) Appearance RBC(per mm3) WCC(per mm3) Protein(g/L) Glucose-Serum Ratio Lactate(mmol/L) Other Normal 5-20 Clear, colourless <3 <5 0.2-0.4 0.5-0.66(2.5-3.5 mmol/L) <2.8–3.5 - Traumatic Tap Normal Grossly bloody or clear...

What are the characteristic CSF findings of meningoencephalitis with different infective agents?

Opening Pressure (cm/H2O) Appearance RBC(per mm3) WCC(per mm3) Cell Differential Protein(g/L) Glucose-Serum Ratio Lactate(mmol/L) Microscopy and Gram Stain Culture PCR Other Normal 5-20 Clear, colourless <3 <5 Usually lymphocytes and monocytes 0.2-0.4...

What are the causes of raised CSF white cell count (pleocytosis)?

Infectious conditions Viral meningoencephalitisBacterial meningoencephalitisTB meningitisFungal meningitisNeurosyphilisLyme diseaseParasitic infectionsV-P shunt infection Inflammatory conditions Cerebral vasculitisDemyelinating disease Vascular conditions Subarachnoid...

What is the normal white cell count in CSF? How can you correct for blood contamination of CSF when determining the white cell count?

Normal CSF may contain up to 5 WBCs per mm3 in adults Blood contaminating CSF in the setting of haemorrhage or traumatic tap can disrupting the white cell count The ratio of WBC to RBC in blood is roughly 1:750 It is suggested to correct the white cell count by...

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