Ascitic fluid should undergo gross inspection as well as laboratory analysis. Routine laboratory test include: differential cell count, albumin assay, and cultures. Please refer to the tables below for information on ascitic fluid characteristics in specific disease conditions. It is not required that you memorize the tables at this time, but you should be familiar with the general trends outlined.

Inspection

Ascitic fluid is typically translucent and yellow. Fluid of other colour or consistency may reflect specific underlying disease processes (see table).

Cell Count

Several millileters of ascitic fluid are sufficient to obtain a differential cell count.