Exudate is produced from fluid that has leaked out of blood vessels and closely resembles blood plasma. Fluid leaks from capillaries into tissue at a rate that is determined by the permeability of the capillaries and the hydrostatic and osmotic pressures across the capillary walls. Most wounds will contain some exudate; this will vary from very little to copious levels. In a healing wound, exudate production generally reduces over time. In a chronic wound that is not healing, exudate production may continue and be excessive due to ongoing inflammatory processes (WUWHS).