Lumbar punctures are common procedures to the Emergency Medical provider.  Obtaining the fluid is just part of the battle however with this procedure.  With the flood of results often comes a fair bit of confusion as to how to interpret them.  After reading this post, you'll be able to:

• Use cell counts, protein, and glucose to distinguish between various etiologies of meningitis and determine when to order further testing
• Understand markers of bleeding in CSF and methods of distinguishing SAH from traumatic tap