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🧪 Body Fluid Analysis – Miscellaneous (Other) Fluids

Parameter	Details
Test Name	Body Fluid Analysis – Other (ascitic, pericardial, synovial, CSF, peritoneal)
Sample Type	Fluid aspirated from non-pleural body cavities
Fasting Required	❌ Not required
Common Fluids Tested	Ascitic, Pericardial, Peritoneal, Synovial, Cystic, Drain fluid, CSF
Primary Organs	Abdomen, Heart, Brain, Joints, Infection sites

🔍 Why Is This Test Done?

To diagnose the cause of abnormal fluid accumulation in various body cavities and detect:

🧫 Common Types of Body Fluid & Associated Conditions

Fluid	Common Source/Organ	Possible Diseases Evaluated
Ascitic fluid	Abdomen / Peritoneum	Liver cirrhosis, TB peritonitis, malignancy
Pericardial fluid	Heart sac	Pericarditis, TB, malignancy
Synovial fluid	Joints	Arthritis, gout, septic arthritis
CSF	Brain/spinal cord	Meningitis, hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis
Drain/Cyst fluid	Post-operative sites or cysts	Infection, abscess, malignancy

🔬 Parameters Typically Evaluated

Test	Clinical Utility
Physical appearance	Clear/cloudy/turbid/bloody – indicates infection, bleeding, chyle, etc.
Total protein	High in exudates; helps differentiate transudate vs exudate
Glucose	Low in infections (bacteria, TB), malignancy
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)	Elevated in infection, malignancy, inflammation
Cell counts & differential	Neutrophils = bacterial; Lymphocytes = TB/malignancy; Eosinophils = allergy
Gram stain / Culture	Detects bacterial infection
AFB stain / TB PCR (CBNAAT)	Detects tuberculosis
Cytology	Detects cancer cells
ADA (Adenosine Deaminase)	Elevated in tuberculous peritonitis, pericarditis
pH / Amylase / Triglycerides	May be used for specific fluid analysis (pancreatic, chylous effusion)

🧮 Differentiating Transudates vs Exudates (When Applicable)

For fluids like ascitic or pericardial, the classification helps guide treatment:

Type	Transudate	Exudate
Cause	Systemic (e.g. heart failure, cirrhosis)	Local inflammation or infection (e.g. TB, cancer)
Protein	<2.5 g/dL	>2.5 g/dL
LDH	Low	High

🧪 Recommended Additional Tests Based on Fluid Type

Fluid	Further Diagnostic Tests
Ascitic Fluid	SAAG (Serum-Ascites Albumin Gradient), TB PCR, Cytology
Pericardial Fluid	Echocardiography, ADA, TB PCR, Cytology
Synovial Fluid	Crystal analysis (gout/pseudogout), Gram stain, culture
CSF	Cell count, Protein, Glucose, Culture, India Ink, PCR (HSV, TB)
Drain Fluid	Bacterial culture, AFB smear, Cytology, Biochemistry

📝 Summary Table

Test Name	Body Fluid Analysis (Other)
Sample	Body cavity fluid (not pleural)
Used For	Diagnosis of infection, inflammation, malignancy
Includes	Protein, LDH, glucose, cells, culture, TB, cytology
Recommended With	CBC, Blood glucose, Serum protein, Culture, ADA, TB PCR

Body Fluid Analysis (Other) - Body Fluid