CSF cell count

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

CSF cell count

Overview

Risks

Results

CSF cell count

Normal Values:

The normal white blood cells are between 0 and 5. The normal red blood cell count is 0.

What abnormal results mean:

An increase of white blood cells indicates infection, inflammation or bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid. Some causes include:

meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spine)
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain substance itself)
acute infection
tumor
abscess
infarct
multiple sclerosis
hemorrhage

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The finding of red blood cells may indicate a hemorrhage. However, red blood cells in the CSF may also be due to a traumatic spinal tap which can happen if the spinal tap needle hits a blood vessel while entering the skin or dura.

It is important to see if the red blood cell count clears in samples taken later in the procedure as opposed to earlier. A ratio of the red blood cells to the white blood cells is also calculated to help with diagnosis.

Additional conditions which this test may help diagnose include: