Gastric juice is a digestive fluid
formed in the stomach and is composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl), potassium
chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). Gastric juice analysis is performed
by measuring and assessing the contents of a fasting patient’s stomach for
acidity, appearance and volume; results from this test may help evaluate
suspected peptic ulcer, severe gastritis, Zollinger-Ellison (Z-E) syndrome, H pylori and gastric cancer. However,
X-rays and other studies are recommended for definitive diagnosis. Gastric
analysis requires very complex procedures, especially the insertion of a
nasogastric tube to extract gastric contents, which has reduced its adoption
rate in modern medicine. Gastric fluid is evaluated macroscopically for general
physical and chemical characteristics such as color, presence of mucus or
blood, and pH; gastric fluid is also evaluated microscopically for the presence
of organisms and abnormal cells. The normal appearance of gastric fluid is a
translucent, pale gray, slightly viscous fluid containing some mucus but not
usually blood. pH is usually less than 2 and not greater than 6. To fully
harness the potentials of gastric juice in clinical practice, the development
of a simpler method of extracting gastric juice sample for diagnostic use will
be welcomed; while this is unrealistic for the moment, further and advance
training of clinicians and laboratory scientists on the extraction of gastric
juice is pertinent.
Chukwudi, O (2019). Gastric Juice as a Diagnostic Sample. Afribary.com: Retrieved February 16, 2019, from https://afribary.com/works/gastric-juice-as-a-diagnostic-sample
Ofurum, Chukwudi. "Gastric Juice as a Diagnostic Sample" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 12 Jan. 2019, https://afribary.com/works/gastric-juice-as-a-diagnostic-sample . Accessed 16 Feb. 2019.
Ofurum, Chukwudi. "Gastric Juice as a Diagnostic Sample". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 12 Jan. 2019. Web. 16 Feb. 2019. < https://afribary.com/works/gastric-juice-as-a-diagnostic-sample >.
Ofurum, Chukwudi. "Gastric Juice as a Diagnostic Sample" Afribary.com (2019). Accessed February 16, 2019. https://afribary.com/works/gastric-juice-as-a-diagnostic-sample