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 or inflammation:

• meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spine)
• acute infection
• tumor
• abscess
• infarct
• multiple sclerosis

The finding of red blood cells may indicate a hemorrhage.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• arteriovenous malformation (cerebral)
• cerebral aneurysm
• delirium
• dementia
• epilepsy
• Guillain-Barre
• hemorrhagic stroke
• neurosyphilis
• primary lymphoma of the brain
• spinal tumor
• stroke secondary to syphilis
• syphilitic aseptic meningitis
• syphilitic myelopathy