Synovial fluid is aspirated from a joint (commonly knee, hip, or shoulder) under sterile conditions.

The sample is cultured to identify bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens responsible for joint infections.

Once organisms are isolated, antibiotic sensitivity testing is performed to determine effective treatment options.

Clinical uses include:

Diagnosing septic arthritis.

Differentiating infectious arthritis from inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, gout).

Guiding antibiotic therapy for joint infections.

Monitoring recurrent or chronic joint infections.

Provides definitive microbiological evidence for infection management in orthopedics and rheumatology.

Analyte: Microorganisms present in synovial fluid.

Normal Result: No growth (sterile fluid).

Abnormal Findings:

Positive culture: Indicates infection by pathogenic organisms (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas).

Sensitivity profile: Identifies antibiotics effective against the isolated organism.

Clinical Use:

Provides a direct microbiological diagnosis of joint infections.

Helps guide precise antimicrobial therapy.

Supports orthopedics, rheumatology, infectious disease, and internal medicine evaluations.