Osteoarthritis is the painful result of wear and tear on the joints, and like so many conditions, the earlier the treatment starts the better. However, with arthritis, the damage starts well before the symptoms of joint pain and stiffness kick in. According to research at the University of Missouri, levels of proteins in a single drop of the fluid surrounding the damaged joint can be used to detect whether the patient is developing arthritis, as well as to predict the potential severity of the disease. The test, which is available for licensing and is in the process of gaining FDA approval, was developed from studies of dogs suffering from arthritis. Press release