Table 2. . Comparison of typical findings for common cerebrospinal fluid laboratory tests by etiology of meningitis.

Meningitis Etiology	Total Protein	CSF/blood glucose ratio	Total WBC	Predominant WBC type
Bacterial	+++	+++	+++	Neutrophils
Aseptic (Viral)	±	±	±	Lymphocytes†
Tuberculosis	++	+++	++	Lymphocytes
Cryptococcal	++	++	±	Lymphocytes
Coccidioidal	++	+	±	Lymphocytes‡
Blastomyces	++	++	±	Lymphocytes
Histoplasma	++	++	±	Lymphocytes
Aspergillus	++	+	±	Lymphocytes

^†May be neutrophil predominant early in the disease course.

^‡Eosinophilic predominance occurs less commonly but when seen is highly suggestive.

The number of + signs indicate proportional gradient of increase (total protein or total WBC) or decease (ratio of CSF/blood glucose) of the lab test. To indicate proportionally minimal or no increase/decrease, ± is used. WBC differential indicates the dominant cell type present although other cells generally are present as well.

CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; WBC: White blood cell.