CSF Assessment

Question 1

Normal CSF

• appearance
• opening pressure
• [WCC] main cell type
• CSF protein
• CSF glucose
• CSF:serum glucose ratio

Answer 1

Appearance - clear
Opening pressure - 10-20 
[WCC] main cell type - U5, N/A
CSF protein - U 0.4
CSF glucose - 2.6-4.5
CSF:serum glucose - 0.66+

Question 2

Bacterial CSF

• appearance
• opening pressure
• [WCC] main cell type
• CSF protein
• CSF glucose
• CSF:serum glucose ratio

Answer 2

Appearance - turbid, purulent
Opening pressure -High
[WCC] main cell type - High, Neut
CSF protein - High
CSF glucose - Low
CSF:serum glucose - V low

Question 3

Viral CSF

• appearance
• opening pressure
• [WCC] main cell type
• CSF protein
• CSF glucose
• CSF:serum glucose ratio

Answer 3

Appearance - clear
Opening pressure - Normal/high
[WCC] main cell type - High, Lymph
CSF protein - High
CSF glucose - Normal/low
CSF:serum glucose - Normal/low

Question 4

TB CSF

• appearance
• opening pressure
• [WCC] main cell type
• CSF protein
• CSF glucose
• CSF:serum glucose ratio

Answer 4

Appearance - clear/cloudy
Opening pressure - High
[WCC] main cell type - High, Lymph
CSF protein - High
CSF glucose - Low
CSF:serum glucose - V low