Miscellaneous Findings in Body Fluids

Urine for eosinophils Urine samples for eosinophils may be submitted when interstitial nephritis secondary to antibiotic therapy is suspected. Slides to search for eosinophils should be prepared by concentration of the sample by either standard centrifugation or cytocentrifugation. Slides should be stained with Wright stain and a thorough search made for eosinophils. A finding of any eosinophils is significant.

Lupus Erythematosus (LE) cells LE cells are neutrophils containing a smooth homogeneous nuclear mass. The nucleus of the neutrophil will be displaced to the edge of the cell wall by the large homogeneous mass. In patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus, the characteristic LE cell may be seen in serous and synovial fluids. All the factors necessary for formation of these cells—incubation, trauma to the cells, and the LE factor—are present in vivo in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The finding of these cells can be of diagnostic significance in patients not previously identified with this disease. See Figure 1.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)—the fluid that isn't a fluid Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is usually performed on hospitalized patients who have non-resolving pneumonia in an attempt to identify organisms that are not responding to antibiotic treatment or to detect malignancy. The “fluid” is obtained by introducing warmed saline into the lungs through a bronchoscope in 20 mL aliquots followed by aspiration of the saline. A total of 100-120 mL of saline is introduced and aspirated with a recovery of 40-60 mL.³ The “fluid”…

ARDS = adult respiratory distress syndrome; BAL = bronchoalveolar lavage; LE = Lupus Erythematosus.