Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 41

The recommended test for determining whether peritoneal fluid is a transudate or an exudate is the:

A. Fluid:serum albumin ratio

B. Serum ascites albumin gradient

C. Fluid:serum lactic dehydrogenase ratio

D. Absolute neutrophil count

Step 1 of 2

Peritoneal fluid:

The “ascites” is another name for peritoneal effusion.

• The fluid accumulated between the peritoneal membranes is referred to “ascitic fluid” or “peritoneal fluid”

Transudates versus Exudates:

Determination of peritoneal ascitic fluid as transudate effusion or exudates effusion is the most difficult test.

• The recommended test used to find whether ascitic fluid is transudate effusion or exudates effusion is SAAG (serum-ascites albumin gradient)

• During the test, the peritoneal fluid albumin level is subtracted from serum albumin level

• If the gradient is more than 1.1 , it suggests that the fluid is transudate effusion

• If the gradient is less than 1.1 , it suggests that the fluid is exudative effusions

Therefore, “SAAG” is the recommended test used to detect whether the peritoneal fluid as transudate effusion or exudates effusion. Hence, the correct answer is option.