Bronchoalveolear Fluid Analysis Test

The bronchoalveolar fluid analysis is a procedure which used to detect infections related to the immune system of our body; it is also used for people who are suffering from severe Pneumonia, or any kind of lungs related infections. This method is also used to analyse the protein content in the pulmonary arteries. This test is also known as bronchoalveolar washing which includes a procedure in which a tube also known as bronchoscope passed through the lungs or nose or mouth and some fluid is squirted into a small section of lungs and later collected for examination.

The preparation of this analysis should be according to the instruction of the doctor. Since this test is a complicated one, you must follow the rules sincerely. Also, you need to tell your doctor about the medication you are on and the allergies you have. The doctor will start the procedure according to the requirements you have. This information will help the test of having accurate results.

The Bronchoalveolar fluid analysis is used for various purposes but mainly to find out the infection causing agents in the immune system. Since immune system are the defence mechanism of our body and it protects us from many deadly diseases and infection. Hence its necessary to keep our immune system strong. Also, bronchoalveolar fluid analysis helps in detecting the severeness of the pneumonia patients and disorders related to lungs and bronchi.

This test is done by inserting a fibre tube also known as bronchoscope and the procedure is known as the bronchoscopy. To avoid any contamination this test must be done before the biopsy. The following steps are done in this procedure:
1. At first, the patient is given a dose of anaesthesia for making the patient unconscious, since this process might be painful.
2. Now a bronchoscope is inserted through mouth or nose and a warmed saline solution is instilled through the bronchoscope.
3. Now an amount of fluid is squirted and collected into a sterile siliconized bottle on ice.
4. The sample must always be collected on ice only.
5. This process is repeated 3-4 times until the required sample is not collected.
6. In order to protect the sample from degradation, a specific amount of protease inhibitor cocktail tablets can be added.
7. Now, these samples are stored at -80 degrees until use.
8. The fluid which is squirted from lungs can also be used for various methods such as cytologic, microbiologic and other chemical analysis.