Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 55

CSF lactate will be more consistently decreased in:

A. Bacterial meningitis

B. Viral meningitis

C. Fungal meningitis

D. Tubercular meningitis

Step 1 of 2

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate:

Presence of lactate in CSF helps to diagnose meningitis.

• Lactate level in CSF above 35 mg/dL is found in bacterial meningitis

• In viral meningitis, lactate level in CSF is below 25 mg/dL

• Elevated CSF lactate is seen in condition when oxygen flow is decreased to the tissues

Therefore, in “viral meningitis” CSF lactate is consistently decreased. Hence, the correct answer is option.