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mucin clot test (Ropes test)
Indications:
- evaluation of inflammatory arthritis
Principle:
- addition of acetic acid to synovial fluid precipitates hyaluronate into a mucin clot, which is graded as good, fair or poor
- a fair to poor mucin clot results from dilution & depolymerization of hyaluronate, a non-specific finding associated with inflammatory arthritis
- it is generally normal in degenerative joint disease (i.e. osteoarthritis)
Note:
- the mucin clot test is largely of historical significance; it has little diagnostic value
Related
synovial fluid
General
synovial fluid analysis
References
- Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 470
- Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed.,
W.B. Saunders, 1995