- Xanthochromia is a yellow, orange, or pink discoloration of the CSF
- Due to the breakdown products of haemoglobin (bilirubin) following lysis of red cells
- Begins after RBCs have been in CSF for about two hours and can remain for up to 2-4 weeks
- Ultraviolet light can cause degradation of bilirubin:
- Can lead to false negatives
- Samples should be kept in the dark until analysis
