Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis
Reviewed
A CSF analysis is a group of tests on a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid to help diagnose diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as infections, autoimmune disorders, bleeding, tumors, and Alzheimer's disease.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations, but you may be asked to empty your bladder and bowels before the test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- The test results depend on which specific tests are included in the analysis.
- A normal result does not rule out all central nervous system conditions.
- Abnormal results are not diagnostic on their own; further testing is needed to confirm a specific condition.
What to do next
Your provider will explain what your results mean and may order more tests to confirm a diagnosis.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis