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Table 123.3

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Normal Values and Correction for Traumatic Tap

  • Opening pressure:
  • Cell count:
  • Protein concentration:
  • Glucose concentration:
  • CSF: blood glucose ratio

7–18cm CSF

0–5/mm3, all lymphocytes

0.15–0.45g/L (15–45 mg/dl)

2.8–4.2 mmol/L

>50%

  • Correction of cell count and protein concentration in traumatic tap: for every 1000 RBC/mm3, subtract 1 WBC/mm3 and 0.015g/L (1.5 mg/dl) protein

RBC, red blood cells; WBC, white blood cells.

From Normal reference values. N Engl J Med 1986, 314, 39–49. Gottlieb, A.J. et al. (1980) The whole internist catalog. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 127–128.