Clinical utility of body fluid analyses: an overview.
OBJECTIVE
To assess new laboratory procedures for testing body cavity fluids from minor sites such as amniotic fluid, saliva, and synovial fluids, as well as major sites such as pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and cerebrospinal fluids.


METHODS
Recent professional literature.


METHODS
Not specified.


METHODS
Survey of literature.


RESULTS
Normal values for fluids in major body sites are given; causes of abnormalities include inflammation, infection, and neoplastic conditions.  Clinical value of newer amniotic fluid tests for fetal lung material and other ancillary tests using synovial fluid, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of metabolic disorders is assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical laboratories will require a clear demonstration of that value before putting the tests into widespread use; data must show that tests are less expensive, more informative, and safer than the old ones.
Schumann
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D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values