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Synovial FluidAka: Joint Fluid

See Also
1. Monoarthritis
Indication
1. Single most important test in arthritis evaluation
Preparation
1. Heparinized Tube for crystal analysis
2. Saline Tube for Cell Count
Synovial Fluid Volume and Appearance
1. Normal synovial fluid
  1. Slightly yellow, straw colored
  2. Clear (Can read newsprint through the fluid)
  3. Viscous consistency
  4. No clotting
2. Inflammatory fluid
  1. Yellow green to gray
  2. Cloudy to Opaque
  3. Decreased viscosity to Watery consistency
3. Findings suggestive of acute Fracture or derangement
  1. Large fat droplets (sensitive for Fracture)
  2. Bloody fluid
Synovial Fluid Gram Stain and Culture
1. Bacteria (Anaerobes if arthroplasty)
2. Mycobacteria, Fungal Culture on tissues
Other Specific Synovial Fluid Tests
1. See Synovial Fluid White Blood Cell Count
2. See Polarized Microscopy (Synovial Fluid Crystals)

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.