Clinical diagnosis may be confirmed by seeing the characteristic crystals in joint fluid.

Doctors decide a patient has gout if they find crystals in the joint fluid.

In transient synovitis, the joint fluid will be clear.

Normally, only a small amount of joint fluid is found in a joint.

A sample of joint fluid can be taken from any joint in your body.

Check joint fluid for possible infection or inflammation.

Your doctor may also remove a sample of joint fluid with a needle and send it to a lab for examination.

It takes about 25 to 30 minutes for the gas to redissolve into the joint fluid.

Over time, the body will produce excess joint fluid.

Aspiration of the joint fluid reveals rhomboid-shaped crystals under a microscope.