Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis may be used to help diagnose a wide variety of diseases and conditions affecting thecentral nervous system. They may be divided into four main categories: Infectious diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis?testing is used to determine if infection is caused bybacteria, viruses or, less commonly, by tuberculosis, fungi or parasites, and to distinguish it from other conditions; may also be used to detect infections of or near the spinal cord or to investigate a fever of unknown origin. Bleeding (hemorrhaging) within the brain or skull Diseases that cause inflammation or other immune responses such as the production of antibodies?these may include autoimmune disorders, such as Guillain-Barr