Cytology - Synovial Fluid
Cytology is the study of cells and tissues of the body. Cells and Tissues were examined under the microscope to detect the abnormal cancerous cells and other inflammatory diseases. Synovial Fluid is found in the joints helps for easy movement. Cytology on Synovial Fluid helps to diagnose joint illnesses and Malignant Cells.
Why Cytology – Synovial Fluid Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Synovial fluid analysis is also known as joint fluid analysis may be ordered to help diagnose the cause of joint inflammation, pain, swelling and fluid accumulation. The function of the synovial fluid is to supply nutrition and disposal of metabolic end products, to lubricate the joints and absorb shock. Diseases associated with synovial fluid are of two types - Inflammatory type and Non-Inflammatory type. Some of the diseases are an auto-immune disease that leads to chronic synovitis (inflammation of synovial membrane), degenerative osteoarthritis (synovial fluid becomes less viscous and inflammatory substances come into direct contact with sensory nerve cells in the joints producing pain), rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tubercular arthritis (mycobacterium tuberculi – acid-fast bacilli), pyogenic arthritis or septic arthritis (increased amount of lactate accumulation), systemic lupus erythematosis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis etc. The test analysis checks for changes in the physical properties like colour, viscosity and screens for changes in the fluid’s biochemical composition. Determination of inflammatory infiltrate is detected by adding acetic acid to the synovial fluid specimen. If mucin clot is formed it shows the presence of inflammatory cells. Estimation of lactate levels in septic arthritis. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, cracking sound (since synovial fluid level reduces to fill the expanding volume of the joints negative pressure is formed and carbon-di-oxide gets filled up in the space and this bubble formation is called as cavitation leading to crackling sound) etc. Cytology of Synovial Fluid: Cytologyis a study that examines the study of cells under a microscope. Hence a cytological examination of aspirated synovial fluid also helps in identifying the presence of harmful infectious micro-organisms along with inflammatory cells like WBCs etc, on microscopic evaluation. The identification of the infectious causative agent is thus identified (eg. Gram-positive or Gram-negative) to arrive at a definite diagnosis for starting effective medication (such as broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum antibiotics) against it. Additional tests include ESR, CRP, D-dimer etc. Additional tests include microscopic analysis for the presence of monosodium urate crystals (gout), calcium phosphate (pseudo-gout), corticosteroid crystals and hydroxylapatite crystals (detected by alizarin red stain), smear study in the synovial fluid specimen for detection of acid-fast bacilli. Other tests include imaging studies like X-rays etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen – Synovial Fluid. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
