AFB Stain - Synovial Fluid

AFB – SYNOVIAL FLUID:

Why AFB – synovial fluid test?

CLINICAL INFORMATION :

The 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, lubricate the joints, and absorbs 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 tuberculin – acid-fast bacilli), pyogenic arthritis or septic arthritis (increased amount of lactate accumulation), systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc. The test analysis checks for changes in the physical properties like color, 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 a mucin clot is formed it shows the presence of inflammatory cells. Estimation of lactate levels in septic arthritis. 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.  

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. Other tests include imaging studies like X-rays etc.

Sample Requirement:

General instructions:

Sample Requirement: Specimen - Aspiration of synovial fluid from the suspected bone joint region as directed by the pathologist or infected site.Test Preparation: None.

NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presentingcomplaints / signs or symptoms:

SPECIMENREQUIREMENT (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 centers 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.