What is the minimum effluent WBC/TNC count after a 2-hour dwell used to evaluate peritonitis?

• A. >50
• B. >100
• C. >150
• D. >200

Answer: (B)

Effluent white blood cell count after a standard 2-hour dwell is the key diagnostic marker for peritonitis in PD. A count exceeding 100 cells per microliter, especially when more than half are neutrophils, strongly indicates an infectious process in the peritoneal cavity. The 2-hour dwell standardizes sampling so the sample reflects the peritoneum rather than transient contamination. This threshold provides a practical balance between catching true infections and avoiding overcalling inflammation; higher thresholds would miss some cases, while lower ones would be less specific. Therefore, the minimum effluent WBC count used to evaluate peritonitis is greater than 100 cells per microliter.