Clinical conditions

Appearance of CSF  

Cell count of CSF        

Total proteins in CSF

Other related tests

• Cryptococcal meningitis 

• Clear or turbid

• 50 to 150 polys or lymphocytes

• 25 to 200 mg/dL

1. The positive India ink test
2. Cryptococcal antigen

• Leptospiral meningitis

• Clear to slightly hazy

• 5 to 100 lymphocytes

• 50 to 100 mg/dL

1. H/O visited a tropical country
2. Contact with animal urine

• Poliomyelitis 

• Clear or colorless

• Cells up to 500 lymphocytes

• 10 to 300 mg/dL

• Positive PCR for poliovirus in CSF

• Encephalitis

• Clear or slightly hazy

• Cells up to 500 lymphocytes

• 15 to 100 mg/dL

• Normal glucose

• Brain tumors

• usually clear

• 0 to 8 lymphocytes

• 15 to 200 mg/dL

• Positive for malignant cells

• Cerebral hemorrhage

• Colorless, yellow, or bloody

• whole blood cells

• 30 to 150 mg/dL

1. Bloody color CSF
2. We may see increased polys

• Spinal cord tumors

• Clear, colorless, or yellow

• Cells are variable

• 1000 to 2000 mg/dl

• It may be positive for tumors

• Neurosyphilis 

• Clear and colorless

• 10 to 100 lymphocytes

• 50 to 150 mg/dL

1. Reactive VDRL
2. Positive CSF T.pallidum antibody

• Tuberculous meningitis

• Colorless or yellow with a fibrin clot

• 50 to 500 lymphocytes

• 50 to 300 mg /dL (may reach 1000 mg)

1. The smear may be positive for the AFB stain
2. TB culture

• Bacterial meningitis

• Cloudy

• WBC > 1000 /µL

• Increased

• Gram stain may show bacteria

• Brain abscess

• Clear or turbid

• Cells are variable

• 20 to 120 mg/dL

• Gram stain may help

• Multiple sclerosis

• Clear, colorless

• 0 to 10 lymphocytes

• 50 to 150 mg/dL

1.  IgG index is elevated
2. Positive oligoclonal band