Cerebrospinal Fluid Basophil and White Blood Cell Count Test
This test measures the number of basophils and white blood cells in your cerebrospinal fluid, helping your doctor diagnose or evaluate infections, inflammation, and other conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord.
{脑脊液是包围大脑和脊髓的透明液体,白细胞升高提示可能存在感染或炎症,嗜碱性粒细胞异常可能与过敏或寄生虫感染相关,此项检测通常通过腰椎穿刺获取样本,结果需结合临床症状和其他检查综合判断}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 30374-3
- Short code
- BASOCSF
- Synonyms
- Basophils NFr CSF
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- csf
- Container
- Sterile CSF collection tubes (tube 3 typically used for cell counts to avoid blood contamination from trauma)
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 0
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- Manual differential count via microscopic examination of stained cytocentrifuge preparation
- CPT
- 89051
- SNOMED
- 39645009
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL of cerebrospinal fluid
- Stability
- Analyze within 1 hour of collection at room temperature; refrigerate at 2-8°C if delayed beyond 1 hour (analyze within 4 hours)
- Hemolysis max
- 200
- TAT
- 1–4 hours
- Order
- routine
What Is This Test?
The cerebrospinal fluid basophil and white blood cell test is a laboratory analysis that measures the number and proportion of white blood cells and basophils in a cerebrospinal fluid sample obtained through a lumbar puncture. Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear liquid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord, cushioning and protecting these delicate nerve tissues from injury.
Why Is This Test Needed?
Your doctor may order this test to evaluate the health of your central nervous system. It can help diagnose conditions such as meningitis, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. If you are experiencing symptoms such as headache, fever, neck stiffness, or confusion, your doctor may recommend this test to help identify the underlying cause.
What Happens During the Procedure?
A cerebrospinal fluid sample is usually obtained through a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. During the procedure, you will lie on your side or sit upright while your doctor cleans the skin on your lower back and injects a local anesthetic. A thin needle is then used to collect a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid. The entire process typically takes 10-15 minutes, and you may feel mild discomfort or a brief stinging sensation. Your sample will then be sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Understanding Your Results
Normal cerebrospinal fluid contains very few white blood cells (usually no more than 5 per microliter). An increased white blood cell count may suggest infection, inflammation, or another abnormal condition. Basophils are normally almost invisible in cerebrospinal fluid, and elevated levels may be associated with allergic reactions, parasitic infections, or certain blood disorders. Your doctor will interpret your specific results together with your symptoms and medical history to reach an accurate conclusion.
Reference range
Normally absent or very rare; basophils not typically present in CSF in healthy individuals. Reference: 0% or <1% of total leukocytesN/A
No special patient preparation required. Inform patient about lumbar puncture procedure, risks, and obtain informed consent.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
脑脊液白细胞计数升高常见于细菌性脑膜炎、病毒性脑膜炎、结核性脑膜炎、脑炎等感染性疾病。白细胞分类可以帮助区分不同类型的感染，例如中性粒细胞增多常见于细菌感染，淋巴细胞增多常见于病毒感染或结核感染。嗜碱性粒细胞增多可能提示过敏性疾病、寄生虫感染（如囊虫病）或慢性骨髓增生性疾病。脑脊液细胞学检查还可用于鉴别神经系统肿瘤，肿瘤患者可能出现异常细胞。此外，这项检查对多发性硬化症的诊断也有一定参考价值，典型表现为寡克隆带阳性。
Frequently asked questions
Do I Need to Fast Before This Test?
Are There Any Risks With a Lumbar Puncture?
How Long Does It Take to Get Results?
Does an Abnormal Cerebrospinal Fluid Result Always Mean a Serious Illness?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy