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Bronchoalveolar Lavage |
| Test | Bronchoalveolar Lavage |
| Indication | The test is used to identify the etiology of potentially treatable pulmonary infections. |
| Physiology | Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has become an established procedure for defining the etiology of pulmonary infections. It is particularly useful for recovering opportunistic pathogens (Pneumocystis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Candida sps, Aspergillus sp., Mycobacterium sp., ) from immunocompromised patients. |
| Normal Range | Normal total cell count: 4-23X106; differential: 95% alveolar macrophages, 3% lymphocytes, 1% polymorphonuclear cells, 0.2% eosinophils; <104 CFU/mL aerobic bacteria. |
| Sample | Bronchoalveolar lavage |
| Test Method | Bronchoalveolar lavage |
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