Clinical and Interpretive

The observation of particular cellular patterns in a Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) sample can provide useful diagnostic information to providers concerning various thoracic conditions. Inflammatory cellular patterns in a BAL differential can be noted by an increased amount of lymphocytes, eosinophils, or neutrophils.  These patterns, though nonspecific, can assist clinicians in the differential diagnosis of ILDs and other conditions.  It should be noted that normal BAL differentials results do not exclude abnormalities in the lung tissue.

Normal cellular populations in BAL:

• 0-30% lymphoctyes
• 0-10% neutrophils
• 0-1% eosinophils