Lab Information Manual

Laboratory:

Clinical Biochemistry

Test Name:

PERICARDIAL FLUID (Biochemistry Specimen ID: PC)

Test Code: See Reference Values section below

Clinical Information:

For more information see:

Collection Devices:

Preferred Device:

Specimen Required:

Pericardial Fluid: 2.0 mL

Referral:

Requisition:

Reference Values:

Delphic Code	Test Name	Result	Unit	Interpretation
	Appearance	Turbid		Likely Infectious or Malignancy
		Blood-Streaked Cloudy		Likely Malignancy or Tuberculosis
		Bloody		Cardiac Rupture/Puncture
		Clear or Straw Colored		Uremic Renal Failure
		Milky		Chylopericardium

TPFL	Protein	> 30	g/L	Exudate
		≤ 30	g/L	Transudate
	Protein Fluid: Serum Ratio	≥ 0.5		Exudate
LDFL	LD	> 300	U/L	Exudate
	LD Fluid: Serum Ratio	≥ 0.6		Exudate
AL ALFL	Serum-Fluid Albumin Difference	> 11	g/L	Portal Hypertension
CEFL	CEA	> 5	μg/L	Malignant Pericardial Effusion
TGFL	Triglyceride	> Plasma Level	mmol/L	Chylopericardium

Availability:

Daily at Health Sciences Centre, St. Boniface Hospital and Westman Lab. Other locations dependent on lab shipments to reference labs.