Clinical Utility of CSF Correction Factors for Traumatic Lumbar Puncture in Adults.

Indicators of false pleocytosis in adults with traumatic LP include bloodier CSF and milder pleocytosis, suggesting that correction factors are most useful in such cases. Across correction factors, an expected specificity/sensitivity tradeoff is observed. Corrected CSF WBC counts suggesting only mild pleocytosis should be interpreted cautiously.