| Type of Joint Fluid | Viscosity | Clarity | Color | WBC Count (per microLiter) | Gram Stain - C & S |
| Normal | High | Clear | Light yellow | < 200 | Negative |
| Noninflammatory | High | Clear | Light yellow | 200 - 2000 | Negative |
| Inflammatory | Low | Cloudy | Dark yellow | > 2000 | Negative |
| Septic | Low | Cloudy | Dark yellow | Usually > 40,000 | Usually postive (except only 25% positive if gonorrhea) |
| Hemorrhagic | Variable | Cloudy | Pink-red | Usually > 2000, with many RBC's | Negative |
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