Wound Care Certified Certification (WCC) Practice Exam

What type of exudate is characterized by being thin, watery, and pale red?

1. Serosanguineous exudate

2. Purulent exudate

3. Hemorrhagic exudate

4. Serous exudate

The correct answer is: Serosanguineous exudate

Serosanguineous exudate is a type of fluid that occurs during the healing process, particularly in wounds. It is identified by its thin, watery consistency combined with a pale red or pinkish tint, resulting from a mixture of serum (the clear, watery component of blood) and a small amount of blood. This type of exudate typically indicates that the wound is healing and is often seen during the inflammatory and proliferative phases of wound healing. Purulent exudate, on the other hand, is thick and opaque, usually indicating infection, and contains pus which is a sign of white blood cells responding to infection. Hemorrhagic exudate is characterized by substantial amounts of red blood cells, leading to a more bloody appearance that suggests a significant level of bleeding from the wound site. Serous exudate is clear and pale yellow, lacking the reddish tint associated with serosanguineous exudate. Thus, the defining characteristics of serosanguineous exudate make it the correct answer in differentiating between the various types of wound-related fluids.