Pleural Fluid pH Measurement at Acute Care Hospitals
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-1998
Description
Purpose: A reliable pleural fluid (PF) pH is useful in the management of pleural effusions. While the blood gas analyzer (BGA) has been considered the method of choice to determine PF pH, laboratories are under increasing pressure to find alternatives. We undertook this study to ascertain the variety and implications of different methodologies of determining PF pH. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to laboratory directors of 1,160 acute care hospitals to ascertain the technique used to measure PF pH, the number of thoracenteses performed, and how often pH was requested on PF per year. We, also, asked whether a pulmonary specialist was on staff. Results: 409 questionnaires were returned. 116 hospitals sent their samples to reference laboratories. Sixteen hospitals had not determined a PF pH within the last year. 277 facilities tested their own PF pH. The BGA was employed in 32% of these hospitals. Fifty-six percent used either dip stick or pH indicator paper methods. pH meter was used by 12%. Only 1/3 of all PF samples were tested for pH. Hospitals with the lowest percentile of pulmonologists corresponded to those facilities that did not test for PF pH or used reference laboratories. Conclusions: A variety of methods to determine PF pH are used. The reliability of alternative means of measuring PF pH awaits validation. Since PF pH was measured on only 1/3 of PF and 4% of institutions did not test PF pH, suggests clinicians are unaware of the significance of this test.
Citation Information
McCoskey, Eugene H.; Chandler, T. M.; Jones, S.; Byrd, R. P.; Fields-Ossorio, C.; Roy, T. M.; and Quillen, James H.. 1998. Pleural Fluid pH Measurement at Acute Care Hospitals. Chest. Vol.114(4 SUPPL.). ISSN: 0012-3692