<![CDATA[The aimed of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of pleural fluid total cholesterol and Light’s criteria to determine exudate or transudate. The samples used in this cross-sectional study were pleural fluid specimens sent to the Clinical Pathology Laboratory of the Dr.Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital Makassar during the period of August-September 2016. Data were grouped according to the type of effusion then statistically analyzed using nonparametric Mann Whitney U-test. The result of this study showed from 55 samples, there were 22 transudates and 33 exudates. The mean total cholesterol levels of exudate is higher than transudate (p=0.006). By using cut-off value of total cholesterol pleural fluid 56 mg/dL, it had sensitivity 72.7%; specificity 78.8%; Positive Predictive Value (PPV) 81.3% and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) 69.6% while Light’s criteria had sensitivity 97%; specificity 63.6%; PPV 80% and NPV 93.3%. Pleural fluid total cholesterol level with cut-off 56 mg/dL is proposed to be used for differentiating exudate and transudate because it is easier and more simple to perform than Light’s criteria. ]]>
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