Category
ROUTINE CHEMISTRY
Sub Category
FLUID ANALYSIS
Synonym/Aliases
PLEURAL FLUID ANALYSIS. PERITONEAL OR ASCITIC FLUID ANALYSIS. SYNOVIAL OR JOINT FLUID ANALYSIS. ROUTINE EXAMINATION, PERICARDIAL FLUID.
Abbreviations
- N/A
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS)
Results
RESULTS READY WITHIN 2 WORKING DAYS
Method
MACROSCOPIC, MICROSCOPIC & BIOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF FLUIDS OTHER THAN CSF, URINE, BLOOD & SEMEN.
Temp
SAMPLE KEPT ATROOM TEMPERATURE 2-3 HOURS, 2-8ºC 3 DAYS, FROZEN N/A
Setup
ALL WORKING DAYS
Components Parameters
VISUAL EXAMINATION, BIOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION (TOTAL PROTEIN, GLUCOSE), MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION (RBC & WBC CELL COUNTS; GRAM STAIN, INDIA INK PREPARATION).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. SPECIFY FLUID TYPE/ SITE.
Patient preparation
- N/A
Sample type
VARIABLE I.E. PLEURAL FLUID, PERITONEAL/ ASCITIC FLUID; SYNOVIAL/ JOINT FLUID ETC.
Container/ preservative
STERILE CONTAINER
Sample volume
AT LEAST 3ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
TO APPLY LIGHT'S CRITERIA FOR PLEURAL FLUID ASSESSMENT, CONCURRENT SERUM SAMPLE AND ORDER FOR TOTAL PROTEIN (SERUM) & LDH (SERUM) TESTING IS REQUIRED. TO CALCULATE SERUM-ASCITES ALBUMIN GRADIENT (SAAG) FOR ASCITIC/ PERITONEAL FLUID, CONCURRENT SERUM SAMPLE & ORDER FOR ALBUMIN (SERUM) IS REQUIRED. FOR SYNOVIAL FLUID ANALYSIS, ADD ORDER FOR CRYSTAL EXAMINATION BY POLARIZING MICROSCOPY WHEN GOUT OR PSEUDOGOUT IS SUSPECTED.
Reference intervals
AGE AND GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES PROVIDED WITH THE REPORT
Clinical Utility
ASSESSMENT OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS, JOINT EFFUSIONS, PERICARDIAL EFFUSIONS, ASCITES & PERITONITIS.
Test Limitations / Confounders
DOES NOT INCLUDE CULTURE & SENSITIVITY. FOR THIS, AN ADDITIONAL SEPARATE ORDER MUST BE SPECIFIED.