Specimen Requirements

5 mL of body fluid        Note:  Indicate specimen source on specimen container.

Acceptable specimens, measured on the pH meter, include but are not limited to paracentesis fluid, thoracentesis fluid, gastric fluid, Dialysis bath samples, urine, and Buckberg solutions for Pharmacy.

***Pleural fluid pH can be performed on an ABL90 Flex blood gas instrument provided the sample is collected anaerobically in a heparinized syringe with immediate air exclusion to prevent altered results. The sample should be placed on ice and transported to the laboratory immediately. Testing within 1 hour of collection for optimal accuracy.