Chapter 13: Diagnostic tests
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Specimen collection: pleural fluid
Definition
Specimens of pleural fluid for microbiological analysis are obtained via thoracocentesis to assist in the diagnosis of infection in fluid that has accumulated within the inner and outer (visceral and parietal) layers of the pleural cavity; such infections can include parapneumonia, empyema and tuberculosis (Chernecky and Berger [32], Pagana and Pagana [177]). In the context of microbiological analysis, thoracocentesis is the insertion of a needle into the pleural space to obtain a fluid sample for diagnostic testing (Pagana and Pagana [177]).
