VCP 411: Medicine Section

GROSS EVALUATION

• Normal CSF is clear and colourless.
• Turbid (off white to grayish colour): when there is increased white cell number and/or protein elevation.
• Pink: blood contamination. Free hemoglobin suggests previous subarachnoid hemorrhage rather than contamination during fluid collection.
• Yellow (Xanthochromic): Breakdown of hemoglobin from previous trauma or sever elevation of CSF protein (>100 gm/dl). Yellow colour is also seen in some protracted icterus.