Quiz on the Biochemistry of Body Fluids

Which of the following are common tests performed on cerebrospinal fluid?

• Glucose measurement

• Cholesterol level

• Lactate

• Bilirubin analysis

Which condition is indicated by markedly high protein concentration in CSF?

• Cerebral edema

• Normal pressure hydrocephalus

• Bacterial meningitis

• Viral meningitis

Light's criteria are used to differentiate which types of pleural effusions?

• Transudates from exudates

• Malignant from benign

• Infectious from non-infectious

• Acute from chronic

Which of the following is a common cause of transudative pleural effusion?

• Bacterial pneumonia

• Pulmonary embolism

• Congestive heart failure

• Malignancy

What is the primary function of pericardial fluid?

• To transport hormones

• To lubricate the heart's movement

• To store electrolytes

• To provide nutrients to the heart

Which of the following is a common test performed on saliva?

• Cortisol measurement

• Protein concentration

• Bilirubin analysis

• Glucose level

What are the diagnostic challenges in evaluating extravascular body fluids?

• No established reference interval

• No competent operator in handling test request of extravascular body fluid

• No IQC EQA material available in the market

• Matrix effect affect the precision and accuracy of the test results

• Many of the analytes measured are not included in the intended use of the assays by the manufacturers

What tests are required to calculate Serum Ascitic Albumin Gradient (SAAG)?

• Peritoneal Fluid Albumin

• Serum Albumin

• Pleural Fluid Albumin

• CSF Albumin

• Pericardial albumin

You received turbid milky whitish pleural fluid. How can you differentiate chylothorax from pseudochylothorax sample

• Perform dilution on sample until lipaemic flag disappear

• Perform high speed centrifugation

• Measure the ratio of Fluid Triglyceride and Fluid cholesterol in relative to their respective serum sample

• Check for Light's criteria

You received request for SAAG for 65 year old lady with underlying liver cirrhosis.

Fluid Albumin : 38 g/L Serum albumin: 15 g/L.

Calculate the gradient and interpret the result (choose the best fit answer)

• Transudate (Portal hypertensive cause)

• Exudate (Non portal hypertensive cause : malignancy, infection, inflammation)

• < 11 g/L

• >11 g/L