Evaluation of direct gas-liquid chromatography of CSF in rapid diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis.

ABSTRACT

A comparison of culture and lactic acid level from 50 patients suffering from bacterial meningitis and 25 controls was done to evaluate the role of direct GLC analysis of CSF for early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The study revealed that the CSF lactic acid level was higher in 48 out of 50 cases. Only in 30 patients the causative agent of the disease could be established by conventional techniques. Quantitative estimation of lactic acid was found to be useful.