True or False: A normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample is clear and colorless.

A normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample is indeed clear and colorless, which is characteristic of healthy CSF. This clarity and absence of color illustrate that the fluid is free from significant contamination, infection, or the presence of blood cells, which can indicate pathological conditions. In normal physiological states, CSF primarily serves to protect the brain and spinal cord, facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste, and maintain homeostasis within the central nervous system.

Pathological changes, such as in cases of infections like meningitis or hemorrhages, can lead to cloudy, turbid, or colored CSF due to the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or blood. Therefore, the assertion that normal CSF is clear and colorless aligns with established medical standards and helps distinguish normal from abnormal conditions in a clinical setting.