Table 3.

Containers used for serous fluid biochemical analysis.

Analysis	Container	Recommendation
pH analysis	heparinized syringe	sampling done in anaerobic conditions; analyze promptly using a blood gas analyzer
Cell count, differential cell count	EDTA-anticoagulated tube	after collection, mix well
Biochemical analyses	non-additive or heparin-anticoagulated containers/tubes	allow complete clotting of samples collected in non-additive containers/tubes at room temperature; bloody and turbid serous fluids may be unsuitable for analysis
Glucose, lactate	tubes with glycolitic inhibitors	lactate: specimen chilling during transportation to the laboratory

EDTA - ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.