Pericardial Fluid Analysis

Analyte/characteristics

Result interpretation: pericarditis

Viral

Bacterial

Tuberculous

Autoimmune

Appearance

Serous or serous-bloody

Yellowish, turbid

Serous-bloody

Serous

WBCs

>5×109/L (lymphocytes and occasional macrophages)

>10×109/L (granulocytes, numerous macrophages)

>8×109/L (granulocytes and a moderate number of macrophages)

<5×109/L (lymphocytes and occasional macrophages)

Adenosine deaminase

(–)

(–)

(+) >40 IU

(–)