Cerebrospinal fluid data. 1. Interpretation in intracranial hemorrhage and meningitis.

In substantiating a diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage, the most important laboratory findings are RBCs, free hemoglobin, or hemoglobin breakdown products in the CSF. When the Gram stain is negative and results of bacterial, viral, and fungal cultures are pending. CSF WBC and differential counts and glucose and lactic acid levels may provide clues to the cause of meningitis. In addition, counterimmuno-electrophoresis and other immunologic techniques that facilitate the diagnosis of meningitis are now becoming more widely available.