clinical chem - body fluid analysis

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

liquid that surrounds brain and spinal cord

100-150 mL

total CSF volume is about _____ in adults

lumbar puncture

how is CSF collected?

tube 1

which CSF tube is chemistry?

tube 2

which CSF tube is microbiology?

tube 3

which CSF tube is hematology?

tube 4

which CSF tube is cytology if collected?

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

tested to investigate cases of suspected CNS infection, demyelinating disease, malignancy, and hemorrhage in CNS

traumatic tap and subarachnoid hemorrhage

two most common reasons for blood and hemoglobin pigments to be found in CSF

0.5-1%

total protein value in CSF

cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

normal has very small amount of protein

meningitis and hemorrhage

elevated total protein in CSF is indicator of _____

CSF leakage/trauma

decreased total protein in CSF is indicator of _____

60-70%

CSF glucose values

bacterial meningitis

decreased CSF glucose, increased protein, increased WBC count, large % of neutrophils causes _____

viral meningitis

normal CSF glucose, increased protein, increased % of lymphs causes _____

CSF lactate

indicator of anaerobic metabolism within the CSF

bacterial or fungal meningitis

increased CSF lactate is indicative of _____

serous fluids

includes pleural, pericardial and peritoneal fluids, exists in very small quantities, serves as lubricant between the membranes of an organ and the sac in which it is housed

pleural fluid

found in the space between the lungs and pleural sac

pericardial fluid

found in the space between the heart and pericardial sac

peritoneal fluid

found between the intestines and the peritoneal sac

effusion

accumulation of fluid in a cavity

transudates

develop as part of systemic disease processes that influence the absorption or formation of the fluid so that it accumulates, seen with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome

exudates

indicate inflammatory disorders that interfere with reabsorption at the location where the fluid originates, leading to fluid accumulation, associated with bacterial and viral infections, malignancy, pulmonary embolism, etc

3-20 mL

normal value of pleural fluid

thoracentesis

collection of pleural fluid

protein, cholesterol, uric acid

often used to help identify effusion and if it is transudate or exudate in pleural fluid

glucose and lactate

tests for infection or inflammation in pleural fluid

amylase

tests for pancreatitis in pleural fluid

<50 mL

normal value of pericardial fluid

exudates

pericardial effusions are almost always _____

pericardiocentesis

collection of pericardial fluid, dangerous and performed rarely

infection

pericardial cultures are needed to investigate _____

malignancy

cytology is needed for suspected _____

ascites

condition of having excess peritoneal fluid

albumin

testing _____ in peritoneal fluid helps differentiate causes of peritoneal effusions

paracentesis

collection of peritoneal fluid

amniotic fluid (AF)

amniotic sac provides an enclosed environment for fetal development

amniocentesis

collection of amniotic fluid

alpha fetoprotein test (AFP)

produced by fetal liver, screening for neural tube defects between 15-18 weeks

alpha fetoprotein (AFP)

increased in neural tube defects (spina bifida and anencephaly), decreased in down’s syndrome

fetal lung maturity test

primary reason for amniotic fluid testing, usually do a test for lethicin to sphingomyelin ratio

respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

if neonate is delivered before the lungs have had time to fully mature, neonatal _____ may result

cystic fibrosis (CF)

sweat for chloride levels in the diagnosis of _____

synovial fluid

fluid found in cavities of movable joints, serves as transport medium for delivery of nutrients and removal of cell wastes, lubricant that reduces friction

arthrocentesis

collection of synovial fluid