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- Xanthochromia is the result of metabolized hemoglobin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which suggests intracranial bleed.
- It helps differentiate traumatic lumbar puncture results from true intracranial bleeding.
- It causes the CSF to have a yellowish color which can be detected with the naked eye or analyzed with a machine (done visually at UMMS).
- It typically takes at least 6 hours for xanthochromia to manifest itself.