CSF analysis

Question 1

What are the normal ranges for CSF?

Answer 1

Clear and colourless
>5 WBC
>10RBC
0.15-0.45g/L protein
Glucose >2/3 serum glucose
OP 10-20 cm

Question 2

What are the findings of CSF in bacterial meningitis?

Answer 2

Cloudy and turbid
High OP
Very high WBC - polymorphs
Low glucose
High protein

Question 3

What are the findings of CSF in viral meningitis?

Answer 3

Clear
High WBC - mononuclear
High protein

Question 4

What are the findings of CSF in fungal meningitis?

Answer 4

Clear or cloudy
High WBC - mononuclear
Low glucose
High protein

Question 5

What are the findings of CSF in tuberculosis meningitis?

Answer 5

Fibrin web
High OP
High WBC - mononuclear 
Very low glucose
High protein

Question 6

What are the findings of CSF in subarachnoid haemorrhage?

Answer 6

Blood stained then yellow - xanthochromia and bilirubin

High RBC

Question 7

What are the findings of CSF in GBS?

Answer 7

Normal cells

High protein

Question 8

What are the findings of CSF in MS?

Answer 8

Mildly high protein

Oligoclonal bands