For any patient with meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), where a needle is inserted into the back of the patient and spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is sampled. The following tests help diagnose tuberculous meningitis:
- Spinal fluid (CSF) stain positive for mycobacterium
- CSF with high protein, low glucose and increased lymphocytes
- CSF culture growing M. tuberculosis
- CSF positive for M. tuberculosis PCR
- Positive skin test for tuberculosis
- Brain or meningeal biopsy showing M. tuberculosis
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