How long do csf results take

Common causes include high blood pressure , stroke , or an aneurysm. CSF analysis can detect immune response disorders. The immune system can cause damage to the CNS through inflammation, destruction of the myelin sheath around the nerves, and antibody production. CSF analysis can detect primary tumors in the brain or spine. It can also detect metastatic cancers that have spread to your CNS from other body parts. CSF analysis may also be used to help diagnose multiple sclerosis MS.

MS is a chronic condition in which your immune system destroys the protective covering of your nerves, which is called myelin. People with MS may have a variety of symptoms that are constant or come and go. They include numbness or pain in their arms and legs, vision problems, and trouble walking. CSF analysis may be done to rule out other medical conditions that have symptoms similar to MS. This can include high levels of IgG a type of antibody and the presence of certain proteins that form when myelin breaks down.

About 85 to 90 percent of people with MS have these abnormalities in their cerebral spinal fluid. Some types of MS progress quickly and can be life-threatening within weeks or months. Biomarkers can help identify the type of MS you have earlier and more easily.

Normal results mean that nothing abnormal was found in the spinal fluid. All measured levels of CSF components were found to be within normal range. Your follow-up and outlook will depend on what caused your CNS test to be abnormal. Further testing will most likely be required in order to get a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment and outcomes will vary. Meningitis caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection is a medical emergency. Symptoms are similar to viral meningitis. However, viral meningitis is less life-threatening. People with bacterial meningitis may receive broad-spectrum antibiotics until the cause of the infection is determined.

Prompt treatment is essential to save your life. It can also prevent permanent CNS damage. A cerebrospinal fluid CSF test can be used to diagnose many conditions, from neurological disorders to infectious diseases. Get a step-by-step look…. CSF cell count and differential are measured during cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The results can help diagnose conditions of the central nervous….

Doctors surgically place VP shunts inside one of the brain's ventricles to divert fluid away from the brain and restore normal flow and absorption of…. Multiple sclerosis MS can cause brain and spinal cord lesions. Treatment may be helpful in preventing new lesions and managing the condition. Some days, sharing about my life with MS feels useful and authentic.

Other times, I'd rather keep the details to myself. The results weren't permanent, but I'll cherish the memory of regaining my mobility. Myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis are immune-mediated conditions that can cause neurological symptoms.

Learn about their similarities and…. Then they clean the area with antiseptic fluid, which can feel cold. You have an injection of anaesthetic into the area, this can sting for a few seconds. When the area is numb, the doctor or nurse puts the lumbar puncture needle in through the skin. It goes into the small of your back and into the space around the spinal cord.

You might feel some pressure when the needle goes in. The whole test takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It can be uncomfortable but it's not usually painful. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have a headache, so they can give you some pain killers. Lying flat and drinking plenty of fluids may relieve your headache. This may last for a couple of days so make sure you have pain killers to take home. You will have a dressing on the skin where they did the test. You usually remove this the next day.

A lumbar puncture is a very safe procedure but your nurse will tell you who to contact if you have any problems after your test.

Your doctors will make sure the benefits of having a lumbar puncture outweigh these possible risks. You might have lower back pain for a couple of days after the test. Contact your hospital team if the pain is severe. You usually have a small spot of blood on the dressing on your back. Contact your hospital team if you have bleeding for more than 15 minutes.

It can take time for test results to come through. How long will depend on why you're having the test. It could be a day or two but can be up to a couple of weeks.

If you have not had your results a few weeks after your test, you could contact your doctor to chase your results for you.

Find out about tests to diagnose cancer and monitor it during and after treatment, including what each test can show, how you have it and how to prepare. Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.

About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since Questions about cancer? Usually, you can go home on the same day, but you should rest and avoid strenuous very tiring activity, as well as too much bending, lifting, stretching or straining.

You should not drive yourself home following a lumbar puncture, so it is a good idea to make other arrangements for getting to and from your appointment. A number of people experience headaches after having a lumbar puncture. This is a common side effect.

It is caused by the drop in pressure around the brain that happens when the membrane is punctured and fluid is removed. The body will naturally replace the lost fluid but, in the meantime and while the membrane heals, it is a good idea to keep well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. You may also take simple painkillers to help relieve the pain. Some people find drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea or cola can help to ease headaches, as can lying down completely flat for a time.

If you do experience headaches following the procedure, they should usually improve within a few days. If this happens to you, you should contact the hospital. Some people can experience backache following a lumbar puncture. The pain is usually mild and can be treated effectively with painkillers. Any backache should ease within a few days.

If you are having a lumbar puncture done for the purpose of a test, it is possible for results to be available in as little as a few hours in emergencies. However, you may have to wait for several days or weeks if more specialised tests are being done on the samples.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this fact sheet, especially Samantha Colhoun Clinical Nurse Specialist. Please tell us what you think of our information so we can keep improving it, and click the link below to fill in our feedback form. Fill in our feedback form.

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