Correction of CSF White Blood Cell Count Based on Red Blood Cell Count

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Correction of CSF White Blood Cell Count Based on Red Blood Cell Count

Detected CSF
WBC Count

cells/μL

Blood WBC Count

×10⁹/L

CSF RBC Count

cells/μL

Blood RBC Count

×10¹²/L

Calculation Result:

cells/μL

English Name

CSF WBC correction in blood-contaminated CSF

Calculation Formula

Corrected CSF WBC Count = Detected CSF WBC Count - (Blood WBC Count * CSF RBC Count / Blood RBC Count)

Explanation

24 hours after bleeding, red blood cells dissolve, and bleeding stimulates the meninges, causing a significant increase in white blood cells, making the above calculation invalid. The types of cells that increase start with neutrophils, followed by lymphocytes, and then monocytes.

References

1. Tunkel AR. Approach to the Patient with Central Nervous System Infection. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. (Eds). Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Philadelphia 2010. Vol 1, p.1183.

2. Bonadio WA. The cerebrospinal fluid: physiologic aspects and alterations associated with bacterial meningitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992;11(6):423-31.

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