A cerebrospinal fluid test analyzes the fluid around the brain and spinal cord to diagnose central nervous system disorders. A lumbar puncture is the most common method of extraction, but in rare cases, a cisternal or ventricular puncture may be necessary. The fluid is examined for color, consistency, protein levels, and other substances to accurately diagnose the patient.
A cerebrospinal fluid test is an analysis done on the fluid around the spinal cord and brain. Doctors extract the fluid through a lumbar, cisternal, or ventricular puncture. Once cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected, a laboratory can perform various tests to diagnose central nervous system disorders or problems, such as multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, bleeding in the brain or spinal cord, or cancerous tumors .
A lumbar puncture, or lumbar puncture, is the most common method of extracting fluid for a CSF test. The patient leans forward to expose the spine or lies on their side with knees drawn towards the chest. The doctor usually numbs the lower back with an injection of anesthetic before piercing the lower back to collect a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid.
In rare cases, a doctor may need to collect fluid from the area of the skull due to a serious lower back injury or brain herniation, a condition in which the brain and cerebrospinal fluid are pushed out of their normal positions. usually due to trauma. A cisternal puncture collects fluid from the base of the skull for a CSF test. It’s done with a special X-ray to help your doctor determine where to guide the needle, because the base of your skull is so close to the brainstem. A ventricular puncture involves the collection of cerebrospinal fluid from a hole drilled in the skull if the doctor suspects a brain herniation, although this is very rare.
Physicians and laboratory analysts usually examine fluid first over water during a cerebrospinal fluid test. Changes in the color and consistency of the fluid, which is normally clear with the same consistency as water, can indicate bleeding or indicate bacterial infections or cancer. Your doctor can also test the amount of protein in your fluid. Increased levels of protein can indicate syphilis, multiple sclerosis, meningitis, tumors of the spinal cord or brain, or Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Other common tests performed on cerebrospinal fluid include chemical tests to detect certain proteins and other substances to help doctors accurately diagnose a patient. For example, if meningitis is suspected, a doctor may order a test to measure the level of lactic acid in the fluid to help determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral. Other tests look for specific bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
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