Lactate Synovial Fluid
What is this test?
Lactate synovial fluid test is used to measure the amount of lactate present in the synovial fluid of an individual. This test may help in diagnosing any disease related to bones and joints like arthritis, cancers of the blood and bone marrow etc.
What is Synovial fluid?
The thick viscous fluid between joints of the bone is called as the synovial fluid. The synovial fluid is generally clear and is made up of plasma and proteins which supplies nutrients to the joint structures and also plays a role in lubricating the bone joints to protect them from wear and tear. The contents of the synovial fluid tend to change in case of any disease or disorders related to joints, bone and bone marrow.
What is Lactate?
Lactate is a product of cell metabolism. Large amounts of lactate are produced by the cells during the lack of oxygen due to strenuous exercise or in seriously ill patients who are suffering from conditions like sepsis, hypoxia, lactic acidosis, etc. The lactate is released into the blood which is then metabolized and excreted by the liver. The concentrations of lactate in various body fluids may be used to evaluate the causes or severity of the disease or disorders.
Why is this test performed?
This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like swelling and painful joints, difficulty in moving, weakness or tenderness of joints, muscle and back pain, redness around major joints like knees, fever etc.
This test can also be recommended for individuals with disease or disorders related to joints, bone and bone marrow like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia (cancer which affects blood and bone marrow), autoimmune diseases etc.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Lactate Synovial Fluid. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Lactate Synovial Fluid.
No special preparation is needed for this test.
Understanding your test results
Higher or lower values of lactate in synovial fluid test results may indicate that the individual may have the diseases or conditions which affect the bones and joints like osteoarthritis, trauma, kidney or liver diseases, cancers or tumors, muscle disorders, infections like tuberculosis, bacterial or viral pericarditis, rheumatic disease etc.
Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests, etc.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | Fluid LD activity is normally less than plasma LD activity. Equal in inflammatory processes |