Other Fluids by Conventional method

Blood

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No Fasting Required

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Cytology/analysis of body fluids.

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Other Fluids by Conventional Method - Comprehensive Test Guide

Why is it done?
- Analyzes body fluids other than blood (such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, serous fluids, and other bodily secretions) using traditional microscopic and chemical examination methods
- Diagnoses infections, inflammation, malignancy, and metabolic disorders affecting various body cavities and systems
- Evaluates fluid composition including cell counts, differential analysis, chemistry, and microorganism identification
- Performs when patients present with symptoms suggesting fluid accumulation or abnormalities in body cavities (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial spaces)
- Assists in monitoring disease progression and response to treatment in conditions affecting fluid-producing organs
Normal Range
- Cell Count: Typically ranges from 0-5 WBC/mm³ and 0 RBC/mm³ in normal fluids (variations depend on fluid type)
- Appearance: Clear to pale yellow, transparent, and non-turbid in normal conditions
- Glucose levels: Approximately 40-80 mg/dL in cerebrospinal fluid; higher in other fluids (60-70% of serum glucose)
- Protein levels: 15-45 mg/dL in cerebrospinal fluid; 2-5 g/dL in other body fluids
- Specific gravity: 1.007-1.009 (varies slightly by fluid type)
- Culture/Microbiology: Sterile (no growth on bacterial or fungal culture)
- Normal results indicate no infection, inflammation, or abnormal cellular activity; however, reference ranges vary by laboratory and fluid type
Interpretation
- Elevated WBC Count (>5 cells/mm³): Suggests infection, inflammation, malignancy, or autoimmune disease; differential count helps identify causative agent (neutrophils indicate bacterial infection, lymphocytes suggest viral or tuberculous infection)
- Presence of RBCs: May indicate traumatic tap, hemorrhage, or bleeding disorder; serial samples showing increasing RBCs suggest pathological bleeding
- Turbid/Cloudy Appearance: Indicates presence of cellular material, protein, or microorganisms; requires urgent evaluation for meningitis or peritonitis
- Low Glucose (<40 mg/dL CSF): Highly suggestive of bacterial meningitis, fungal infection, or malignancy; when CSF glucose is <50% of serum glucose, infection is likely
- High Protein Levels (>500 mg/dL): May indicate infection, inflammation, malignancy, or hemorrhage; extreme elevation suggests meningitis or spinal block
- Positive Culture: Confirms bacterial, fungal, or acid-fast bacilli infection; enables organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- Abnormal cells/Malignant cells: Presence indicates possible malignancy requiring further investigation and oncology consultation
- Glucose-to-plasma ratio: Calculated to differentiate CSF pathology; ratio <0.4 in bacterial meningitis
Associated Organs
- Central Nervous System: Cerebrospinal fluid analysis detects meningitis, encephalitis, guillain-barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and malignant leptomeningitis
- Lungs and Pleural Cavity: Pleural fluid examination diagnoses pneumonia, lung cancer, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, and congestive heart failure
- Peritoneal Cavity/Abdomen: Peritoneal fluid analysis identifies peritonitis, ascites from cirrhosis, ovarian cancer, and abdominal infections
- Heart and Pericardium: Pericardial fluid testing detects pericarditis, viral infections, malignancy, and myocardial infarction complications
- Joints and Synovial System: Synovial fluid analysis diagnoses septic arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory joint conditions
- Potential complications: Spinal tap complications include post-lumbar puncture headache, infection, bleeding, and nerve damage; thoracentesis risks include pneumothorax and hemothorax
Follow-up Tests
- Blood cultures: Performed simultaneously to identify systemic infection when fluid analysis suggests bacteremia
- Gram stain and culture results: Provide organism identification and guide antibiotic selection; typically completed within 24-72 hours
- PCR testing: Molecular identification of specific pathogens (meningococcus, pneumococcus, HSV, VZV) for rapid diagnosis
- Imaging studies: CT or MRI of affected region if malignancy, hemorrhage, or structural abnormalities are suspected
- Serum glucose and protein: Compared with fluid values to calculate ratios and improve diagnostic accuracy
- Cytology and immunohistochemistry: Recommended when malignant cells are identified for precise cancer classification
- Serology/Special stains: AFB stain for tuberculosis, fungal cultures for cryptococcus, and viral serology when indicated
- Repeat fluid analysis: May be performed after treatment initiation to assess therapeutic response
Fasting Required?
- No fasting required for fluid collection procedures (lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, paracentesis, arthrocentesis)
- However, if serum glucose and protein are to be collected simultaneously for comparison, fasting may be recommended (typically 8-10 hours)
- Patient should avoid medications interfering with the procedure; anticoagulants may need adjustment if bleeding risk is elevated
- Before procedure: Patient should undergo informed consent, medical history review, and assessment of contraindications (infection at site, anticoagulation, thrombocytopenia)
- Patient positioning: Varies by procedure type (upright for lumbar puncture, lateral for thoracentesis, supine for paracentesis)
- Specimens must be handled immediately and transported to laboratory promptly to prevent cell degradation and contamination

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