Abstract

Accumulation of fluid other than blood in pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities is known as Effusion. The classification of the fluid as exudate or transudate is the first step in evaluation of its etiology. Aims and Objectives: The aim of study is to evaluate the usefulness of biochemical parameter, cytology and cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) in differential diagnosis of ascitic and pleural fluid. Material and Method: A study was carried out on 100 body fluid samples including 62 samples of ascitic fluid and 38 samples of pleural fluid. Clinical details were obtained and the samples were send to cytology where physical examination, staining (giemsa and pap staining), microbiology (CBNAAT) and biochemistry (total protein, fluid sugar, LDH) parameters were assessed. Result- Out of 100 samples of body fluid, male to female ratio was 3.2:1. The most frequent etiology was found to be reactive in both type of effusion (49%) followed by inflammatory (46%) and malignancy (5%). Out of 38 pleural fluid samples, 84% belongs to exudate and (16%) belongs to transudate, classified on the basis of Light’s criteria. Three were 3 malignant effusions and three cases were found CBNAAT positive. Out of 62 ascitic effusion, 37% were transudate and 63% were exudate and two cases were diagnosed as malignant effusions. Conclusion: Ascitic fluid SAAG and LDH is found be helpful in diagnosis of different etiologies for effusion. For pleural fluid, light's criteria is found beneficial. Cytological diagnosis aids in early detection of malignancy found in body fluids. CBNAAT was found to be specific for detection of tuberculosis.

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