Q - How helpful is a viral meningitis test?

A - A viral meningitis test is not often asked for in cases of meningitis because it adds little to the treatment decision process. But whenever a viral test is needed, a viral culture or a PCR could be asked for.

Viral culture - This is a test where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from the lumbar puncture is incubated in a special growth medium for a specified period. After the period has elapsed, the culture is examined for growth to know which viruses are present.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)- This test is used especially when infection with Herpes viruses are suspected. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid is put in the PCR cycle and the results are evaluated. What a PCR does is simple. It takes a sample of any specimen and re-creates multiple copies of that specimen so that the final quantity is much larger than the initial quantity.

 

Answered - March, 2007