How long does it take for the results of a spinal tap to be reported? I would expect this would have been one of the first tests done.
Minutes? Days? Weeks?
Everyone associated with the school must be very worried.
It is variable. Cell counts specifically the number of white and red cells are usually available within 30 minutes. this can suggest the presence of meningitis but doesn’t give much info about the causative agent ( viral vs bacterial) though it can give you a basis for a guess. Definitive testing includes PCR tests for common viral and bacterial causes and can take hours to days. The gold standard is a culture that usually takes 48 hours. All patients are admitted and treated with IV antibiotics until culture results are available (unless there is positive pcr before that). If the culture is negative at 48 hours usually it is presumed to e viral (not contagious and no further treatment needed). If bacterial meningitis is confirmed by pcr or culture 7-10 days of antibiotics are needed, usually I.V. occasionally bacterial meningitis will be assumed even if testing negative if the patient has an infectious contact and the right symptoms. If bacterial meningitis is confirmed or strongly suspected close contacts will often be started on oral antibiotics prophylactically. Probably more than you wanted to know…