The radioactive bromide partition test in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children.

The radioactive 82Br partition test was performed on 83 children with suspected tuberculous meningitis. Three of 51 patients with a final diagnosis of TBM had a false negative serum to CSF bromide partition ratio of more than 1.6. Four of the 32 patients in whom TBM was excluded had a false positive ratio of less than 1.6; three of these had sever purulent bacterial meningitis. The test distinguishes TBM from viral meningitis. Antituberculous therapy does not affect the diagnostic value of the bromide partition test in the first few weeks of treatment of TBM.