title: Do we measure pleural fluid pH correctly?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review analyzes the current literature available on appropriate measurement of pleural fluid pH and currently used methods of measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current literature continues to support the superiority of blood gas analyzers (BGAs) in the accurate measurement of pleural fluid pH. Despite the compelling evidence, roughly 30-50% of the laboratories across the United States continue to use inaccurate methods for pleural fluid pH measurement. Nearly 40% of pulmonologists were incorrect in believing their laboratory uses BGA for the analysis of pleural fluid pH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is apparent that the clinical utility of pleural fluid pH is often undermined by its inappropriate measurement. Physicians must be made aware of their laboratory's method of measurement if pleural fluid pH is to be used in the evaluation of pleural diseases. If pleural fluid pH measurement is not done accurately, then other pleural fluid characteristics may be used to aid the clinician.
authors.affiliation: Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Putnam
authors.forename: Azeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elahi
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bowling
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008297:Male; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States