RT Book, Section A1 Fye, Kenneth H. A1 Imboden, John B. A2 Imboden, John B. A2 Hellmann, David B. A2 Stone, John H. SR Print(0) ID 57270068 T1 Chapter 2. Joint Aspiration & Injection T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology, 3e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-163805-0 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57270068 RD 2024/03/29 AB The major components of synovial fluid analysis are assessing fluid clarity and color, determining the cell count, examining for crystals, and obtaining culture.Joint aspiration should be performed promptly whenever septic arthritis is suspected because synovial fluid cell count, Gram stain, and culture are necessary to establish or exclude joint space infection.Synovial fluid analysis can be diagnostic in cases of crystalline arthritis.The synovial fluid white cell count is the most reliable means of distinguishing noninflammatory (2000 cells/mcL) forms of arthritis.Joint injections with glucocorticoid are often the swiftest means of providing relief to patients with inflamed joints.