the present invention relates to an artificial synovial fluid composition that mimics the tribological properties of human , osteoarthritic synovial fluid for the main purpose of in vitro wear testing . there is described an artificial synovial fluid composition comprising : a ) a mammalian serum having i ) a total protein concentration of from about 10 to about 45 g / l ; ii ) an albumin fraction of from about 55 % to about 80 % w / w %; iii ) an α - 1 globulin fraction of from about 3 % to about 6 % w / w %; iv ) an α - 2 globulin fraction of from about 5 % to about 10 % w / w %; v ) a β - globulin fraction of from about 3 % to about 20 % w / w %; vi ) a γ - globulin fraction of from about 5 % to about 20 % w / w %; vii ) a calcium concentration of from about 0 . 1 mmol / l to about 3 mmol / l ; viii ) a magnesium concentration of from about 0 . 05 mmol / l to about 0 . 8 mmol / l ; ix ) an inorganic phosphate concentration of from about 0 . 1 mmol / l to about 1 . 5 mmol / l ; x ) an iron concentration of from about 0 . 001 mmol / l to about 0 . 1 mmol / l ; xi ) a peptide concentration at a 2 , 000 da molecular weight cut - off of from about 0 . 005 g / l to about 10 g / l ; xii ) a maximal transition midpoint temperature , t m - cp - max , of from about 330 k to about 350 k at a concentration molality of from about 0 . 005 to about 0 . 15 mmol / l measured at a scan rate of from about 20 k / hour to about 100 k / hour ; xiii ) a total enthalpy change , δh , of from about 650 kj mol − 1 to about 1200 kj mol − 1 at a set concentration molality of 0 . 05 mmol / l measured at a scan rate of 60 k / hour ; xiv ) a total entropy change , δs , of from about 1 . 5 kj mol − 1 k − 1 to about 4 kj mol − 1 k − 1 at a concentration molality of from about 0 . 005 mmol / l to about 0 . 15 mmol / l and a scan rate from about 20 k / hour to 100 k / hour ; wherein the ratio of albumin to total globulin in solution is from about 1 . 5 to about 3 ; b ) a buffer for maintaining a solution osmolality of from about 200 mmol / kg to about 400 mmol / kg ; c ) hyaluronic acid at a concentration of from about 0 . 1 g / l to about 6 g / l ; d ) hyaluronic acid with a molecular weight of from 1 mda to 4 mda ; and e ) a ph level of about 7 to about 8 .