title: New approaches in the detection of calcium-containing microcrystals in synovial fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of calcium phosphate crystals such as basic calcium phosphate and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate in intra-articular fluid is linked to a number of destructive arthropathies and detection of these deposits is often pivotal for early diagnosis and appropriate management of such disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the use of a calcium-sensitive dye, Fluo-4, to selectively label calcium-containing mineral deposits in synovial fluid, which can then be easily visualized using a standard fluorescence microscope. Furthermore, we have combined the fluorescent properties of the tagged crystals with flow cytometry as a fast and semi-quantitative method of detection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dot-plots were used to quantify differences between various types of arthropathies and confirmed by visual observation of the crystals under a fluorescence microscope.
authors.affiliation: Bioanalytical Chemistry & Diagnostics Group, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Santana
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yavorskyy
authors.forename: Sinéad T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Loughran
authors.forename: Geraldine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Gillian P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate / Q000032:analysis*; D003460:Crystallization; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006073:Gout / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; C409648:Fluo 4; D014966:Xanthenes; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate