| Variant | Ascitic fluid culture | Absolute PMN per mm3 |
| Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis | Positive | ≥250 |
| Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites | No growth | ≥250 |
| Monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites (single organism) | Positive | <250 |
| Polymicrobial bacterascites | Positive | <250 |
