Synovial fluid, aka synovia, is a thick (like egg white) fluid that lubricates movable joints, e.g. shoulder, knee and hip. It’s secreted by a joint’s synovial membrane to reduce friction, absorb shock and acts as a transport system for oxygen and nutrient delivery, while simultaneously removing carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes.
Synovia can be associated with joint problems, causing symptoms like:
- joint pain
- joint redness
- joint swelling & inflammation
If your joint pain is caused by an accumulation of synovial fluid, removing some can offer you pain relief.
Synovia analysis, aka arthrocentesis, is a group of tests used to assist in diagnosing joint related problems. A sample of your synovial fluid is drawn and sent to a laboratory. The laboratory may check the arthrocentesis sample for:
- color
- clarity
- amount
- lymphocytes
- red blood cells
- presence of pathogens
- crystal formation for gout
- glucose & protein concentration
Some of the health conditions a synovia analysis can help differentiate for diagnosis include:
- gout
- lupus
- joint injury
- osteoarthritis
- joint infection
- Lyme disease
- rheumatic fever
- reactive arthritis
- psoriatic arthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- degenerative disease
- osteochondritis dissecans
- Reiter’s disease, spondyloarthropathy
Rarely, synovial fluid analysis test may cause complications, such as:
- pain
- hematoma
- nerve damage
- cartilage injury
- tendon rupture
- skin infection at needle stick site
You’ll likely be given a local anesthetic, but typically pain relievers or sedatives are not required during an arthrocentesis.