Pleural fluid, a liquid lubricant, is found in the layers of the pleura. The pleura is a thin sheet of tissue that cushions the lungs and the chest cavity. As a result of pleural fluid build-up (medically known as pleural effusion), the lungs in the human body find it difficult to inflate. It makes it difficult for a person to breathe or results in coughing. Doctors conduct a chest X-ray, CT scan, or chest ultrasound to confirm this.Â
Pleural fluid analysis is a group of tests undertaken to understand the root cause of pleural effusion by examining the fluid removed from the pleura.Â
What is the pleural fluid analysis used for?
Pleural fluid analysis diagnoses the medical condition of pleural effusion. Doctors recommend this test to diagnose the underlying reason behind the fluid build-up. The reasons could be various:
Understanding the test results of the pleural fluid analysis test
Laboratories classify the results of pleural fluid analysis into two types:
Why do I need pleural fluid analysis?
A doctor recommends pleural fluid analysis when he suspects pleural effusion. The symptoms for this are a dry, unproductive cough that doesn't go away, severe or constant chest pain, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Sometimes people with pleural effusion have no symptoms. A doctor finds excess fluid in a chest X-ray conducted for other reasons. Â
What happens during a pleural fluid analysis?
A healthcare professional removes pleural fluid from the pleura through a procedure known as thoracentesis. During this process:
What is the pH of pleural fluid?
A medical study has revealed the pH of normal human pleural fluid at a value of 7.60-7.66. Transudate and exudate pleural effusions have a pH level of less than 7.30 but differ from condition to condition. To understand the specific meaning of test results, patients must seek the opinion of a healthcare professional.
What is the normal protein level in pleural fluid?
Normal pleural fluid is clear yellowish and is between 10 - 20 ml in the human body. It contains a low protein concentration of fewer than 1.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL). Pleural fluid plays a key role in the physiological function of respiration in the human body. It helps diagnose, monitor, and assess certain medical conditions.Â
What is the normal value of pleural fluid?
A healthy human body contains 10-20 ml (about four tablespoons) of pleural fluid in the pleura. Other parameters are:
Pathologists evaluate pleural fluid on overall appearance, pH level, microscopy, tumour markers, and other clinical data
How long does it take to analyze pleural fluid?
The procedure of thoracentesis (taking a sample of draining excess fluid from the pleura) takes only 15 minutes. A healthcare professional can conduct this simple test from a doctor's office or a hospital bed. Patients do not need any preparation. The test results take about one or two working days. For infections such as tuberculosis, the results might take weeks.Â
What happens when there is too much pleural fluid?
An unusual amount of pleural fluid (more than 20 millilitres) in the human body leads to a medical condition known as pleural effusion. Symptoms such as unproductive dry cough, excessive chest pain, unexplained fatigue, or difficulty breathing prevail. It is essential to drain excess liquid to avoid further complications and diagnose the root cause.
Is there anything else I need to know about pleural fluid analysis?
Sometimes, pleural fluid test results alone are not enough to diagnose an underlying medical condition. Doctors compare it to other tests such as glucose markers and albumin (a protein formed by the liver). Healthcare professionals use a medical determiner known as Light’s criteria to evaluate the type of pleural effusion a patient suffers from.  Â
Are you wondering what the pleural fluid analysis test results mean? Get a free second opinion from our experts at Yashoda Hospitals today.Â
https://acutecaretesting.org/en/articles/clinical-aspects-of-pleural-fluid-ph
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513353/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17373-pleural-effusion-causes-signs–treatment
https://www.webmd.com/lung/pleural-effusion-symptoms-causes-treatments#091e9c5e80643b50-2-8
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pleural-fluid-analysis/
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/medical-tests/pleural-fluid-analysis
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