Fluid Analysis II (Cytology, Biochemistry , ADA) Test

Fluid analysis is used to help diagnose the cause of accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion). It is a test that examines a sample of fluid that has collected in the pleural space. This is the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest. When fluid collects in the pleural space, the condition is called pleural effusion. A procedure called thoracentesis is used to get a sample of pleural fluid.

No special preparation is needed before the test. A chest x-ray will be performed before and after the test. DO NOT cough, breathe deeply, or move during the test to avoid injury to the lung. Tell your provider if you take any medicines to thin the blood.

Fluid analysis may be ordered when a healthcare practitioner suspects that a person has a condition or disease that is causing pleuritis pleural effusion. Abnormal results may indicate possible causes of pleural effusion, such as:

The test is done in the following way: You sit on a bed or on the edge of a chair or bed. Your head and arms rest on a table. The skin around the procedure site is cleaned. A local numbing medicine (anesthetic) is injected into the skin. A needle is placed through the skin and muscles of the chest wall into the space around the lungs, called the pleural space. The health care provider may use ultrasound to find the best spot to insert the needle. Fluid is drawn out with the needle. As fluid drains into a collection bottle, you may cough a bit. This is because your lung re-expands to fill the space where fluid had been. This sensation lasts for a few hours after the test. The fluid may be sent to a laboratory for testing.