| Test Name and Number | Recommended Use | Limitations | Follow Up |
|---|
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis Amplified Detection , CSF 0060063 Method: Transcription Mediated Amplification (Gen-Probe®)
|
Identify TB as an etiological agent of meningitis
| AFB culture should always be ordered with this test Low level false-positive results can occur in specimens with high concentration of Mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis A negative result does not exclude M. tuberculosis infection | |
| Glucose, CSF 0020515 Method: Enzymatic
|
Aids in differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis
| | |
| Protein, Total, CSF 0020514 Method: Reflectance Spectrophotometry
|
Aids in identification of meningitis
| | |
| Cell Count, CSF 0095018 Method: Cell Count/Differential
|
Aids in differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis
| | |
| CSF Bacterial Culture (Includes Gram Stain 0060101) 0060106 Method: Standard reference procedures for bacterial stain, aerobic culture, and identification
|
Identification of the organism that is the cause of meningitis
| | |
| Blood Culture 0060102 Method: Bactec® 9240, continuous monitoring system. Standard reference procedures for identification of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms
|
Identification of the organism that is the cause of meningitis
| | |
| West Nile Virus Antibodies, IgG & IgM by ELISA, CSF 0050228 Method: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
|
Identify West Nile Virus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| | |
| Arbovirus Antibodies, IgM by IFA, CSF 0098852 Method: Indirect Fluorescent Antibody
|
Identify arbovirus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| | |
| Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) Antibody by CF, CSF 0054450 Method: Complement Fixation
|
Identify LCM as an etiological agent of meningitis
| | |
| Enterovirus Detection by RT-PCR 0050249 Method: Reverse Transcription/Polymerase Chain Reaction
|
Identify enterovirus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| A negative result does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in the patient specimen or Enterovirus nucleic acid in concentrations below the level of detection of the assay | |
| Herpes Simplex Virus by PCR 0060041 Method: Polymerase Chain Reaction
|
Identify herpes simplex virus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| A negative result does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in the patient specimen or herpes simplex virus DNA concentrations below the level of detection of the assay | |
| Epstein-Barr Virus by PCR 0050246 Method: Polymerase Chain Reaction
|
Identify Epstein-Barr Virus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| A negative result does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in the patient specimen or Epstein-Barr virus DNA in concentrations below the level of detection of the assay | |
| Fungal Culture 0060149 Method: Standard reference procedures for fungal culture and identification of mould/yeast. DNA probes available for Histoplasma, Coccidioides, and Blastomyces
|
Aids in differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis
| | |
| Cryptococcus Antigen, CSF 0050195 Method: Enzyme Immunoassay
|
Identify cryptococcus as an etiological agent of meningitis
| A negative result does not exclude the possibility of cryptococcal infection | |
| Coccidioides Antibodies Panel, CSF by CF, ID, ELISA 0050710 Method: Complement Fixation/Immunodiffusion/Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
|
Detect both IgG and IgM antibodies in acute and convalescent samples
Confirm coccidioidal disease as an etiological agent of meningitis
| |
For equivocal results, repeat of testing in 10-14 days may be helpful
|
| Histoplasma Antigen, Serum 0092522 Method: Enzyme Immunoassay
|
Diagnose and monitor response to therapy in Histoplasma-caused disease
| Rarely positive in chronic cases | |
| Blastomyces Antibodies by CF & ID 0050626 Method: Complement Fixation/Immunodiffusion
|
Identify Blastomyces as an etiological agent of meningitis
| | |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen, CSF 0061162 Method: Immunochromatographic Assay
|
Identify streptococcus pneumoniae as an etiological agent of meningitis
| False-positives may occur because of cross-reactivity with other members of S. mitis group. Clinical correlation is recommended. Patients who have received the S. pneumoniae vaccines may test positive in the 48 hours following vaccination. It is recommended to avoid testing within five days of receiving vaccination. Samples from patients taking antibiotics for more than 24 hours may cause a false-negative result | |
| Acanthamoeba Culture 0060245 Method: Culture/Microscopic Identification
|
Identify Acanthamoeba as an etiological agent of meningitis
| This stain will detect Naegleria sp and other free-living amoeba | |
| Wright's Stain 0049176 |
Identify presence of Naegleria and Aacanthamoeba CSF specimen
| | |
| AFB Culture (Includes AFB Stain 0060151) with Reflex to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Amplified Direct Detection (0060095) 0060738 Method: Standard reference procedures for stain and culture. Identification of AFB is ordered and billed separately. DNA probes are available for M. tuberculosis complex and M. avium-intracellulare complex as indicated. DNA sequencing and other molecular techniques are used for identification of other mycobacteria species. For drug susceptibilities, refer to Antimicrobial Susceptibility - AFB Mycobacteria (0060217). For AFB stain positive respiratory specimens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Amplified Direct Detection (0060095) will be added at an additional charge.
|
Identify the tuberculosis organism as an etiological agent of meningitis
| | |
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The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection and Interpretation
