| Pathogen | White blood cells per μL (× 109 per L) | Percentage of neutrophils | Glucose level | Protein level in mg per dL (g per L) | Likelihood of observing organism on CSF stain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyogenic (not Listeria monocytogenes) | > 500 (0.50) | > 80 | Low | > 100 (1.00) | ~70% |
| L. monocytogenes | > 100 (0.10) | ~50 | Normal | > 50 (0.50) | ~30% |
| Partially treated pyogenic | > 100 | ~50 | Normal | > 70 (0.70) | ~60% |
| Aseptic, often viral | 10 to 1,000 (0.01 to 1.00) | Early: > 50 Late: < 20 | Normal | < 200 (2.00) | Not applicable |
| Tubercular | 50 to 500 (0.05 to 0.50) | < 30 | Low | > 100 | Rare |
| Fungal | 50 to 500 | < 30 | Low | Varies | Often high in cryptococcus |