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Test Code PHBF pH Body Fluid

Important Note

  • This orderable is not for gastric specimen for gastric specimens see pH Gastric
  • Specimen source must be indicated on specimen label and requisition(s).
    • Ascites Fl
    • Cyst Fl
    • Other (not Gastric, see above)
    • Pericardial Fl
    • Peritoneal Fl
    • Pleural Fl
    • Synovial Fl

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

PH Body Fluid

PH Body Fluid

Useful For/ Methodology

Used to determine the pH of multiple fluid types using a pH electrode, except for gastric specimens.

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

Collect specimens according to clinical policies and procedures.

Specimen Requirements

Container

 or  or  or  or  or  or bag

Stability

Specimen Type

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Pleural

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 1 Hour

Peritoneal/Ascites pericardial, synovial

Refrigerated

Room Temperature

 2-8°C

18-28°C

≤ 24 hours

≤ 24 hours

Environmental specimens

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 24 hours

Rejection Criteria

The Laboratory will not accept specimens in syringes with needles -- the syringe must be capped with a rubber stopper. 

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Specimen Type

Reference Range

Pleural fluid
  • pH ≥ 7.30
  • pH <7.3  occurs most commonly with empyema, malignant effusion, esophageal rupture, rheumatoid pleurisy, tuberculous pleurisy, and lupus pleuritis.

Peritoneal/Ascites
  • Reference range not established
  • pH <7.35 may be observed in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Pericardial

Reference range not established

Synovial

Reference range not established

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Air bubbles must be removed from the sample immediately.  Contamination with room air will affect results.
  • Clotting and dilutional effects may be present if the sample collection technique is not performed correctly.
  • The presence of unknown interfering substances, clots or other foreign matter within the blood sample that alters the optical spectrum will result in higher levels of residual spectrum. A sample with an absorbance error will not be reported.
  • Anticoagulants such as EDTA, citrate, oxalate, or fluoride will not be accepted since they significantly affect pH.
  • The substances listed below showed an interference with CO-Oximetry/tBili analytes causing a clinically significant error (> TEa).