ABSTRACT
Different stains need to be used to pick up different pathogens. Bacteria are stained with Gram stain (N. meningitidis is a Gram-negative diplococcus, streptococci are Gram-positive). M. tuberculosis stains with Ziehl-Neelsen stain. India ink stains C. neoformans. In addition to the above findings, the presence of oligoclonal bands of immunoglobulin in the CSF is strongly indicative of multiple sclerosis. In subarachnoid haemorrhage, xanthochromia may be seen in the CSF. Xanthochromia is a yellow colour caused by the presence of erythrocyte breakdown products.
