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CSF chemistry Lumbar vertebrae
Overview Risks Results
CSF collection
Alternative Names: Spinal tap; Ventricular puncture; Lumbar puncture; Cisternal puncture; Cerebral spinal fluid culture Normal Values: Pressure: 50 - 180 mm H20 Appearance: clear, colorless CSF total protein: 15 - 45 mg/100 ml Gamma globulin: 3 - 12% of the total protein CSF glucose: 50 - 80 mg/100 ml (or approximately 2/3 of serum glucose level) CSF cell count: 0 - 5 white blood cells (WBC), no red blood cells (RBC) Chloride: 110 - 125 mEq per liter Text Continues Below Note: mg/ml = milligrams per milliliter; mEq/L = milliequivalent per liter What abnormal results mean: Pressure, increased: increased intracranial pressure (pressure within the skull) from trauma or infection Pressure, decreased: obstruction to the flow of CSF above the puncture site (spinal cord tumor), shock, fainting, diabetic coma Appearance Cloudy: infection, white blood cells in the CSF, protein in the CSF, microorganisms Bloody or reddish colored: bleeding within the brain or subarachnoid space, spinal cord obstruction, traumatic lumbar puncture (first specimen bloody, rest clear) Brown, orange, yellow color: elevated protein in the CSF, old (greater than 3 days) blood in the CSF Protein, increased: blood in the CSF, diabetes, polyneuritis, tumors, trauma, any inflammatory or infectious condition Protein, decreased: rapid CSF production Gamma globulin, increased: demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, Guillain-Barre syndrome Glucose, increased: systemic hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar) Glucose, decreased: systemic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), bacterial or fungal infection (such as meningitis), tuberculosis, carcinomatous meningitis WBC, increased: active meningitis, acute infection, beginning of a chronic illness, tumor, abscess, brain infarction (stroke), demyelinating disease (such as multiple sclerosis) RBC: bleeding into the spinal fluid, traumatic lumbar puncture Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>