Test Name
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Test Code
FLOW BAL
Synonyms
CD4:CD8 ratio; NK-cell enumeration
Associations
Pulmonary disease, Sarcoidosis, Lung transplantation
Reflex Testing
None
CPT Codes
88184, 88185x4, 88187
Turnaround Time
1
Specimen Requirements
Bronchoalveolar lavage: 10 mL (min 5 mL) in sterile container with 2-4 mL MPLN RPMI transport media
Specimen Stability
Specimen stable for 48 hours at 4°C
Storage & Handling
Ship with ice pack. Protect from extreme temperature. Separate ice pack from specimen.
Causes for Rejections
Specimens stored at incorrect temperature; Non-viable specimens; Too few cells; Hemolysis; Specimen clotted
Description
CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD4:CD8 by Flow cytometry
References
- Papiris SA et al. (2007). CD8+ T lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Journal of Inflammation.
- Reichenberger F et al. (2007). Bronchoalveolar lavage quality influences the T4/T8 ratio in sarcoidosis. Respiratory Medicine.
- Smith PA et al. (2006). Cytometric analysis of BAL T-cells labeled with a standardized antibody cocktail correlates with immunohistochemical staining. Cytometry.
- Tutor-Ureta P et al. (2006). Prognostic value of neutrophils and NK cells in bronchoalveolar lavage of sarcoidosis. Cytometry.
- Papiris SA et al. (2005). Relationship of BAL and lung tissue CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and their ratio in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest.
