CSF protein test

CSF total protein is a test to determine the amount of protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This test may be helpful in diagnosing tumors, infective polyneuritis (inflammation of several groups of nerve cells), vasculitis, blood in the CSF, and trauma.

Review Date: 06/24/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.