Pericardial fluid analysis is used to help diagnose the cause of inflammation of the

pericardium (pericarditis) and/or fluid accumulation around the heart (pericardial effusion).

There are two main reasons for fluid accumulation: an imbalance of pressure within blood

vessels or inflammation of the pericardium. An initial set of tests, including fluid protein or

albumin level, cell count, and appearance, is used to differentiate between the two types of

resulting fluids, called transudate and exudate.