SEROUS

FLUID
Presented by: Pauline Bautista
01 Introduction to Serous Fluid

02 Formation of Serous Fluid

03 Specimen Collection and

Handling

04 Types of Serous Fluid

INTRODUCTION Serous Serous
TO SEROUS Fluid Fluid
FLUID Fluid
Provides
between
Lubrication
Serous
Membrane
FORMATION OF SEROUS FLUID
Hydrostatic Pressure
Will Cause The Fluid
To Enter The
Membrane
Colloidal Pressure > From
Serum Protein = Capillaries On
Both Sides Of The Membrane
Increased Oncotic
Pressure In The
Capillaries=Reabsorption

Hydrostatic
Pressure and
Oncotic Pressure
 EFFUSION AND ITS CAUSES

Increased Hydrostatic Decreased Oncotic Pressure

Pressure > Congestive > Hypoproteinemia
Heart Failure

Increased Capillary
Lymphatic Obstructions
Permeability > Inflammation
> Tumors
And Infection
 CLASSIFICATION OF THE
CAUSE OF EFFUSION

Transudates Exudates
-systemic disorder -membranes of the
-changes in particular cavity
hydrostatic -infections and
pressure malignancies
SPECIMEN
COLLECTION
:

N
ee
dl
e
As
>1
*Thoracentesis for

p
0

ira
0
Pleural

t io
m
l

n
*Pericardiocentesis for
Pericardial
*Paracentesis for
Peritoneal
SPECIMEN HANDLING

Evacuated Tube To Be Tests Performed:

Used:

EDTA TUBE -Cell Counts

-Differential Cell Counts

Sterile Heparinized or SPS -Microbiology

Tubes -Cytology
TYPES OF
SEROUS FLUID
 PLEURAL FLUID
Additional Tests: Pleural Fluid Cholesterol
and Fluid, Serum Cholesterol Ratio and the
Obtained from the Pleural Fluid, Glucose pH, ADA
Pleural Cavity
Normal Appearance: Clear
and Pale Yellow

Macrophages, Neutrophils,
Lymphocytes, Eosinophils, Mesothelial
Cells, Plasma Cells and Malignant Cells

Pleural Effusion: Staphylococcus

Aureus, Enterobacteriaceae,
Anaerobes and Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis
 PERICARDIAL FLUID
Normal Appearance: Clear
and Pale Yellow
Turbidity: Infection
Blood Streaked: Malignancy
Changes in Membrane
Grossly Bloody: Accidental
Permeability and
Cardiac Puncture and Misuse
Metabolic
of Anticoagulant Medications
Disorders=Pericardial
Milky: Chylous and
Effusion
Pseudochylous Effusion

Laboratory Tests: 10-50 mL

determining whether the
fluid is transudates or
exudates
 PERITONEAL FLUID
*Ascites-Ascitic Fluid
*Cirrhosis-Ascitic
Transudates
*Peritonitis-Exudative Fluids
Sensitive Test:
Peritoneal Lavage
SAAG or Serum-Ascites
Albumin Gradient
Normal Appearance:
Clear and Pale Yellow
Exudates: Turbid With Bacterial Or
Fungal Infection
Green Or Dark Brown- Presence
Of Bile
Blood Steaked Fluid- Seen After
Trauma And With Tuberculosis,
Intestinal Disorders And Malignancy
*Chylous Or Pseudochylous
Material May Be Present With
Trauma Or Lymphatic Vessels
Blockage
*Glucose, Amylase, and Alkaline
Phosphatase Determinations
*Gram Stains and Bacterial Culture
for both Aerobes and Anaerobes
*Measurement of Tumor Markers
Thank You!!!