Fig. 4

Diagnostic algorithm revealing improved diagnostic sensitivity by including PC ae C44:6. 187 CSF samples (bacterial meningitis, n = 32; HSV encephalitis, n = 9; varicella zoster virus meningoencephalitis, n = 15; enterovirus meningitis, n = 10; facial zoster, n = 16; segmental zoster, n = 14; anti-NMDA-receptor autoimmune encephalitis, n = 8; multiple sclerosis, n = 17; Tourette syndrome, n = 20; Bell’s palsy, n = 11; and normal pressure hydrocephalus, n = 35) were subjected to a progressive classification scheme based on CSF cell count and lactate levels, using the commonly used cut-off values for bacterial meningitis [12] indicated in the figure. Adding PC ae C44:6 led to the correct identification of 3 of 4 samples which had been misclassified due to atypically low neuroinflammation