Table 2.

Comparison of common laboratory tests in bacterial, viral, cryptococcal and tuberculosis meningitis.

Laboratory test	† Bacterial meningitis	Aseptic meningitis†	Tuberculosis meningitis	Cryptococcal meningitis‡
Total protein	245–270 mg/dl	75 mg/dl	191†–314‡ mg/dl	90 mg/dl
CSF/blood glucose ratio	0.20–0.36	0.54	0.27†–0.28‡	0.38
Total WBC	Approximately 500–2500 cells/μl	98 cells/μl	300†–375‡ cells/μl	53 cells/μl
Neutrophils (%)	80–90%	37%	37%†	<20%

^†Median values.

^‡Mean values.

CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; WBC: White blood cell.