Over a thirteen months period, 456 patients clinically suspected of having bacterial meningitis were investigated. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were examined by Gram`s stain, white cell (WBC) counts and culture techniques. Gram`s stain and cultures of CSF (232) with a cell count of less than 1o cells/mm3 were consistently negative. However, of the CSF specimens (88) with cell counts greater than 100/mm3, 28 (6.7%) and 23 (5.2%) of the specimens were positive by cultures and Gram`s stain respectively. A total of 31 isolates were identified by culture. Streptococcus pneumoniae (22.4%), Escherichia coli (16%), and Coagulase negative Staphylo-cocci (16%) were the predominant organisms, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (6.4%) and Neisseria meningitidis (2.6%). Thus it was concluded that Gram`s stain and perhaps culture of CSF with cell counts of less than 1o/mm3 are of no practical diagnostic significance and may be eliminated as routine procedures. The gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is raised WBC cell count (>100/mm3), positive Gram`s smear and/or culture of CSF specimen.