Body Fluid Examination

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to body fluid examination.

Cytocentrifuge

A specialized centrifuge used to concentrate cells onto a slide for analysis.

Serous Fluid

Fluids from the thoracic and abdominal spaces, including pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal fluids.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid found within the spinal column and surrounding the brain, providing protection and nutrient circulation.

Synovial Fluid

Viscous fluid found within joints, aiding in lubrication and movement.

Effusion

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in a body cavity.

Transudate

Fluid accumulation due to systemic disease, often clear and less inflammatory.

Exudate

Fluid accumulation due to a primary disease of the compartment, often cloudy or turbid.

Thoracentesis

Procedure to collect pleural fluid from the thoracic cavity.

Pericardiocentesis

Procedure to remove excess fluid from the pericardial cavity.

Paracentesis

Procedure to collect peritoneal fluid from the abdominal cavity.

Hyaluronic Acid

A component of synovial fluid that provides its viscous consistency.

Albumin

A protein that can be added before centrifugation to help maintain cell morphology during cytocentrifugation.

Malignancy

A condition characterized by the presence of cancerous cells in body fluids.

Xanthochromia

The yellow to light orange discoloration of CSF, indicating bilirubin presence.

Reactive Lymphocytosis

Increased number of lymphocytes in CSF, often seen in viral infections.

Birefringence

The optical property of a crystal that refracts light in two different directions.

Monosodium Urate (MSU)

Crystals characteristic of gout, forming in synovial fluid.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD)

Crystals associated with pseudogout, common in elderly patients.

Light's Criteria

A set of criteria used to differentiate exudates from transudates in pleural fluid based on specific ratios of fluid to serum protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Clinical Significance of Xanthochromia in CSF

Primarily indicates an older hemorrhage in the central nervous system (e.g., subarachnoid hemorrhage), typically developing hours after bleeding and persisting for weeks.

Normal appearance of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Normally, CSF is clear and colorless, akin to water.

Gout

An inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints and tissues, leading to acute painful attacks.

Pseudogout

An inflammatory arthritis similar to gout, caused by the deposition of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in joints, common in elderly patients.

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices

Calculated values (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) that describe the size, hemoglobin content, and variability of red blood cells, used to classify anemias.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) for Cell Counts

Obtained from the spinal column via lumbar puncture for analysis, primarily to diagnose central nervous system infections, inflammation, or hemorrhage.

Pleural Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the thoracic cavity via thoracentesis; primarily analyzed to differentiate transudates from exudates in pleural effusions.

Peritoneal Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the abdominal cavity via paracentesis; often evaluated for peritonitis, malignancy, or other causes of ascites.

Pericardial Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the pericardial cavity via pericardiocentesis; analyzed to determine the cause of pericardial effusion.

Synovial Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from joints via arthrocentesis; used to diagnose inflammatory arthropathies, septic arthritis, or crystal-induced arthritis.

Adjusting Manual Cell Count for High Red Blood Cells

To accurately count nucleated cells in a body fluid with abundant red blood cells, a diluent containing a lysing agent (e.g., dilute acetic acid) is used to rupture RBCs without affecting WBCs, improving their visibility for counting.

Cytocentrifuge

A specialized centrifuge used to concentrate cells onto a slide for analysis.

Serous Fluid

Fluids from the thoracic and abdominal spaces, including pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal fluids.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid found within the spinal column and surrounding the brain, providing protection and nutrient circulation.

Synovial Fluid

Viscous fluid found within joints, aiding in lubrication and movement.

Effusion

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in a body cavity.

Transudate

Fluid accumulation due to systemic disease, often clear and less inflammatory.

Exudate

Fluid accumulation due to a primary disease of the compartment, often cloudy or turbid.

Thoracentesis

Procedure to collect pleural fluid from the thoracic cavity.

Pericardiocentesis

Procedure to remove excess fluid from the pericardial cavity.

Paracentesis

Procedure to collect peritoneal fluid from the abdominal cavity.

Hyaluronic Acid

A component of synovial fluid that provides its viscous consistency.

Albumin

A protein that can be added before centrifugation to help maintain cell morphology during cytocentrifugation.

Malignancy

A condition characterized by the presence of cancerous cells in body fluids.

Xanthochromia

The yellow to light orange discoloration of CSF, indicating bilirubin presence.

Reactive Lymphocytosis

Increased number of lymphocytes in CSF, often seen in viral infections.

Birefringence

The optical property of a crystal that refracts light in two different directions.

Monosodium Urate (MSU)

Crystals characteristic of gout, forming in synovial fluid.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD)

Crystals associated with pseudogout, common in elderly patients.

Light's Criteria

A set of criteria used to differentiate exudates from transudates in pleural fluid based on specific ratios of fluid to serum protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Clinical Significance of Xanthochromia in CSF

Primarily indicates an older hemorrhage in the central nervous system (e.g., subarachnoid hemorrhage), typically developing hours after bleeding and persisting for weeks.

Normal appearance of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Normally, CSF is clear and colorless, akin to water.

Gout

An inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints and tissues, leading to acute painful attacks.

Pseudogout

An inflammatory arthritis similar to gout, caused by the deposition of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in joints, common in elderly patients.

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices

Calculated values (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) that describe the size, hemoglobin content, and variability of red blood cells, used to classify anemias.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) for Cell Counts

Obtained from the spinal column via lumbar puncture for analysis, primarily to diagnose central nervous system infections, inflammation, or hemorrhage.

Pleural Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the thoracic cavity via thoracentesis; primarily analyzed to differentiate transudates from exudates in pleural effusions.

Peritoneal Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the abdominal cavity via paracentesis; often evaluated for peritonitis, malignancy, or other causes of ascites.

Pericardial Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from the pericardial cavity via pericardiocentesis; analyzed to determine the cause of pericardial effusion.

Synovial Fluid for Cell Counts

Collected from joints via arthrocentesis; used to diagnose inflammatory arthropathies, septic arthritis, or crystal-induced arthritis.

Adjusting Manual Cell Count for High Red Blood Cells

To accurately count nucleated cells in a body fluid with abundant red blood cells, a diluent containing a lysing agent (e.g., dilute acetic acid) is used to rupture RBCs without affecting WBCs, improving their visibility for counting.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Measures the average volume (size) of red blood cells.

• Calculation: $(Hematocrit / RBC~count) \times 10$ (expressed in femtoliters, fL).
• Clinical Significance:
  • Low MCV (Microcytic): Indicates smaller than normal RBCs, often seen in anemias such as iron deficiency anemia or thalassemia.
  • Normal MCV (Normocytic): Indicates normal-sized RBCs, suggesting conditions like acute blood loss, anemia of chronic disease, or renal disease.
  • High MCV (Macrocytic): Indicates larger than normal RBCs, typically found in anemias due to Vitamin $B_{12}$ or folate deficiency, or liver disease.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Measures the average amount of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell.

• Calculation: $(Hemoglobin / RBC~count) \times 10$ (expressed in picograms, pg).
• Clinical Significance:
  • Low MCH (Hypochromic): Cells have less hemoglobin, often correlating with microcytic anemias (e.g., iron deficiency).
  • Normal MCH (Normochromic): Cells have a normal amount of hemoglobin.
  • High MCH (Hyperchromic): Cells have a higher amount of hemoglobin; often associated with macrocytic RBCs, but MCHC is a more accurate measure of hemoglobin concentration.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

Measures the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells.

• Calculation: $(Hemoglobin / Hematocrit) \times 100$ (expressed in grams per deciliter, g/dL).
• Clinical Significance:
  • Low MCHC (Hypochromic): Cells appear paler due to reduced hemoglobin concentration, characteristic of conditions like iron deficiency anemia.
  • Normal MCHC (Normochromic): Cells have normal color and hemoglobin concentration.
  • High MCHC (Hyperchromic): Rare in true terms, but can be seen in hereditary spherocytosis or severe dehydration, or cold agglutinin disease (due to instrument error).

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Measures the variation in the size of red blood cells (anisocytosis).

• Calculation: Standard deviation of RBC volume / Mean MCV x $100\%$.
• Clinical Significance:
  • High RDW: Indicates a wide variation in RBC size (anisocytosis), often an early indicator of developing anemia (e.g., iron deficiency anemia, Vitamin $B_{12}$ or folate deficiency). It distinguishes anemias with similar MCV values.
  • Normal RDW: Indicates uniform RBC size.