Pleural fluid glucose levels measured with bed-side point of care methods such as finger stick glucometers and I-STAT device correlate with the traditional in-lab testing methods.

This is a prospective study which will identify patients in VAMC with a diagnosis of pleural effusion and undergoing diagnostic thoracentesis.The investigators plan to analyze the two bedside point-of-care fluid glucose testing methods (I- STAT device and finger stick glucometer) to measure pleural fluid glucose levels. The results obtained from these two methods will be compared to the traditionally in lab measured pleural fluid glucose levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

• any patient 18 to 99 year old with a diagnosis of pleural effusion and undergoing a diagnostic thoracentesis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent by the patient or the surrogate to enroll for the planned study.

Pleural effusions

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