Correlation of leukocyte esterase detection and the presence of leukocytes in body fluids.

The Chemstrip-L test was evaluated in 249 body fluids for its ability to detect leukocytes. Three of 42 cerebrospinal fluids were positive for leukocyte esterases, of which all three were cases of culture-confirmed bacterial meningitis. After the addition of predetermined numbers of neutrophils, the lowest level of detection of neutrophils in cerebrospinal fluids was 40 per microliter. Seventy-five of 200 (38%) peritoneal fluids had positive leukocyte esterase tests. Sixty-six of 72 (89%) peritoneal fluids with 100 or greater neutrophils per microliter had positive leukocyte esterase tests. Protein content, if increased, may interfere with the results of the L-test.