Nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) and immature white cells in a CSF most likely mean:
a. Bacterial meningitis
b. Patient has NRBCs in the peripheral blood
c. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
d. Bone marrow contamination
ANS: D
When immature bone marrow cells are seen in the CSF, it most likely means that bone marrow contamination of the specimen has occurred. If a significant number exist, then the CSF differential will be a reflection of what is in the marrow, not the CSF.
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