CSF analysis

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis

A sample of CSF is needed. A lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap, is the most common way to collect this sample. Less common ways to take a fluid sample include:

• Cisternal puncture
• Removal of CSF from a tube that is already in the CSF, such as a shunt, ventricular drain, or pain pump
• Ventricular puncture

After the sample is taken, it is sent to the laboratory for evaluation.

Your health care provider will tell you how to prepare for lumbar puncture.

Analysis of CSF can help detect certain conditions and diseases. All of the following can be, but are not always, measured in a sample of CSF:

• Antibodies and DNA of common viruses
• Bacteria (including that which causes syphilis; see:VDRL test)
• Cell count
• Chloride
• Cryptococcal antigen
• Glucose
• Glutamine
• Lactate dehydrogenase
• Oligoclonal banding to look for specific proteins
• Total protein
• Whether there are cancerous cells present

Normal results include:

• Antibodies and DNA of common viruses: None
• Bacteria: No bacteria grows in a lab culture
• Cancerous cells: No cancerous cells present
• Cell count: less than 5 white blood cells (all mononuclear) and 0 red blood cells
• Chloride: 110 to 125 mEq/L
• Fungus: None
• Glucose: 50 to 80 mg/dL(or greater than two-thirds of blood sugar level)
• Glutamine: 6 to 15 mg/dL
• Lactate dehydrogenase: less than 2.0 to 7.2 U/mL
• Oligoclonal bands: 0 or 1 bands that are not present in a matched serum sample
• Protein: 15 to 60 mg/dL

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

An abnormal CSF analysis result may be due to many different causes, including:

• Cancer
• Encephalitis (such as West Nile and Eastern Equine)
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Reye syndrome
• Meningitis due to bacteria, fungus, tuberculosis, or a virus
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Alzheimer disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)