Analysis of CSF may exclude infectious,[1][3] inflammatory,[1] and neoplastic diseases[1] affecting the central nervous system. The most common purpose is in suspected meningitis,[4] since there is no other reliable tool with which meningitis, a life-threatening but highly treatable condition, can be excluded. A lumbar puncture can also be used to detect whether someone has 'Stage 1' or 'Stage 2' Trypanosoma brucei.