Figure 6-1.

Effusion color and character.

Gross appearance of various effusions. From left to right these are: (a) clear and colorless—transudate; (b) yellow and slightly turbid—modified transudate; (c) red and slightly turbid (likely hemolyzed red blood cells)—hemorrhage; (d) orange and turbid—likely inflammatory fluid with blood; (e) sedimented fluid—note thick pellet of cells on the bottom of the tube; (f) red and turbid—bloody as a result of either hemorrhage or iatrogenic blood contamination; (g) brown and slightly turbid—possible bile or red blood cell breakdown.