A predictive method for the differential diagnosis of meningitis said method comprising the following steps: (a) incubation of a patient's cerebrospinal fluid with specific ligands for the biomarkers apolipoprotein A-I; C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; and kininogen; (b) combined detection of apolipoprotein A-I; C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; kininogen in the patient's CSF by immunoassay; wherein steps (a) and (b) consist of a first node, a second node, and a third node; wherein (i) the first node tests for the presence of apolipoprotein A-I; (ii) the second node tests for the presence of C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; (iii) the third node tests for the presence of kininogen; and (c) determination of the results by means of sequential analysis of the first, second and third node, wherein: (i) a negative result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method; or, positive result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method indicates the condition "viral meningitis"; (ii) a positive result in the second node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first node of the predictive method indicates the condition of "bacterial meningitis"; (iii) a positive result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "meningococcal meningitis"; and (iv) a negative result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "pneumococcal meningitis". (a) incubation of a patient's cerebrospinal fluid with specific ligands for the biomarkers apolipoprotein A-I; C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; and kininogen; (b) combined detection of apolipoprotein A-I; C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; kininogen in the patient's CSF by immunoassay; wherein steps (a) and (b) consist of a first node, a second node, and a third node; wherein (i) the first node tests for the presence of apolipoprotein A-I; (ii) the second node tests for the presence of C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; (iii) the third node tests for the presence of kininogen; and (i) the first node tests for the presence of apolipoprotein A-I; (ii) the second node tests for the presence of C-reactive protein and/or complement C-3 fraction; (iii) the third node tests for the presence of kininogen; and (c) determination of the results by means of sequential analysis of the first, second and third node, wherein: (i) a negative result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method; or, positive result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method indicates the condition "viral meningitis"; (ii) a positive result in the second node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first node of the predictive method indicates the condition of "bacterial meningitis"; (iii) a positive result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "meningococcal meningitis"; and (iv) a negative result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "pneumococcal meningitis". (i) a negative result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method; or, positive result in the first node of the predictive method combined with a negative result in the second node of the predictive method indicates the condition "viral meningitis"; (ii) a positive result in the second node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first node of the predictive method indicates the condition of "bacterial meningitis"; (iii) a positive result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "meningococcal meningitis"; and (iv) a negative result in the third node of the predictive method combined with a positive result in the first and second nodes of the predictive method indicates the condition of "pneumococcal meningitis".