Use of sodium measurement as a surrogate volume measurement in unmetered-blood collection devices.

role of NO in permeability changes of the blood-brain barrier in LPSinduced experimental meningitis (8 ). Another interesting potential explanation for the present observation is that lipopolysaccharide-s produced by gram-negative bacteria could induce local CRP synthesis in the central nervous system. CRP can be produced in neurons (9 ), and lipopolysaccharide-s can induce CRP in extrahepatic sites (10 ). This may also explain the increase, albeit nonsignificant, in serum CRP in the gram-negative cases. There is currently no single test to diagnose the etiology of meningitis promptly and accurately. Given its high sensitivity and easy measurability, CRP may be a useful supplement for rapid diagnosis and categorization of bacterial meningitis.