Abstract
Background: Generally, the pleural fluid specimen should arrive promptly in the laboratory and be analyzed as soon as possible, and its preservation has always been a major problem. In this study, the authors evaluated the stability of pleural fluid samples for white blood cell (WBC) and differential counts up to 72 hours after collection. Method: White blood cell and differential counts from 50 pleural fluid samples were analyzed and stored at 4°C for further analysis at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the initial analysis. Results: Paired t-test showed a nonsignificant reduction of the number of leukocytes/mm 3 in the first 24 hours. Differential leukocyte counts showed a nonsignificant reduction in the percentage of neutrophils, with a consequent elevation in lymphocytes. Conclusion: In a conservative manner, the authors’ data showed that, if necessary, fresh specimens for WBC and differential counts may be safely analyzed within 24 hours after the collection if stored at 4°C in an anticoagulant-treated tube.
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