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Alternative Names:

Pleural Fluid pH

Laboratory:

Clinical Biochemistry

Test Code:

PLFLPH

Specimen Types:

Fluid
See Under Collection Instructions

Container Types:

See Under Collection Instructions

Collection & Request Instructions:

The preferred collection of Pleural Fluid pH should be anaerobically into a 3 mL heparin syringe.

Absolute minimum volume is 1 mL- expel all air.The syringe should be capped to avoid exposure to air.

An alternate container type is a sterile CSF tube filled to the top to minimise gas exchange.

Sample stability (samples must be anaylsed within this time)

1 hour stored at room temperature

NOTE: Pleural pH can NOT be requested on a shared container such as a Microbiology test.

Transport Instructions between Sites and/or Laboratories:

Send to lab immediately

Assay Frequency:

Daily

Additional Notes:

Do not send frank pus for Pleural Fluid pH analysis.

Test performed on Siemens RapidPoint 500 Blood gas instrument