In suspected meningitis, which analyte would be ordered and how would it appear in CSF?

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Multiple Choice

In suspected meningitis, which analyte would be ordered and how would it appear in CSF?

When meningitis is suspected, you look at the composition of CSF to see how the inflammation is affecting the barrier between blood and CSF. The inflammatory process damages the blood–CSF barrier, letting more serum proteins leak into the CSF. That’s why the most characteristic finding for this scenario is an increased CSF protein level. Normal CSF protein is about 15–45 mg/dL. In meningitis, protein rises, and in bacterial meningitis it’s often markedly high (frequently well over 100 mg/dL). Viral meningitis may show normal or only mildly elevated protein. So the best answer is that CSF protein would be increased.

When meningitis is suspected, you look at the composition of CSF to see how the inflammation is affecting the barrier between blood and CSF. The inflammatory process damages the blood–CSF barrier, letting more serum proteins leak into the CSF. That’s why the most characteristic finding for this scenario is an increased CSF protein level.

Normal CSF protein is about 15–45 mg/dL. In meningitis, protein rises, and in bacterial meningitis it’s often markedly high (frequently well over 100 mg/dL). Viral meningitis may show normal or only mildly elevated protein. So the best answer is that CSF protein would be increased.

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