A lumbar puncture—also called a spinal tap—is a test that removes a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid from your lower back. This fluid surrounds and protects your spinal cord and brain.
A lumbar puncture is a test to look for infection in the spinal fluid (meningitis) or the brain (encephalitis). It is also used to look for signs of bleeding in the space around the brain. A lumbar puncture is also called a spinal tap. This is a consent form for the procedure.
A spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture) is a test that checks the health of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord. During the test, a small sample of CSF is removed from the spinal canal to be tested in a lab. The test is safe and does not damage the spinal cord or nerves. Within a few hours your child’s body will make new fluid to replace what is removed.
