• Physicians will use multiple blood tests, in addition to considering your medical and family history, to determine if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Several blood tests, such as those for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP), can detect the presence of antibodies that indicate inflammation.
• An RF test is unable to confirm the presence of rheumatoid arthritis on its own.
• A positive anti-CCP blood test can be a strong indication of a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the joints. More than 1.5 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Blood tests play a key role in diagnosing the condition. They measure whether you have the antibodies often found in rheumatoid arthritis, and they may also show inflammation, a common symptom of the disease.

Blood tests on their own can’t diagnose RA. A rheumatologist will conduct a physical examination, take a medical history, and possibly order imaging tests, in addition to blood tests. Here’s a primer on which blood tests can help diagnose RA.

Rheumatoid Factor Test

Rheumatoid factor was the first autoantibody found in people living with rheumatoid arthritis. An autoantibody is an antibody the immune system produces in response to the body’s own tissues. A positive RF test isn’t enough to confirm rheumatoid arthritis. Other conditions like diabetes and cancer can lead to elevated RF levels.

Even if you have normal RF levels, you could still be diagnosed with RA — a condition called seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. There’s no direct correlation between RF levels and RA activity. Medical professionals consider a normal level of RF to be below 20 international units per milliliter (often noted as IU/mL).

Anti-CCP Test

People often get an anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide test with or after an RF test. Anti-CCP autoantibodies are harmful because they have the potential to attack a person’s healthy cells, producing inflammation. Anti-CCP tests more accurately diagnose RA than the RF test. Ask your doctor about an anti-CCP test if you’re experiencing a low-grade fever, joint pain, joint stiffness, or joint swelling. The anti-CCP autoantibody is present in 60 percent to 70 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

People with RA may still have a negative anti-CCP test if they have low levels of anti-CCP in their blood. However, people who test positive for a high presence of anti-CCP have a 90 percent chance of having RA. People with a positive anti-CCP test often have a more severe case of RA.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test

An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or “sed rate” test is a type of blood test that can detect inflammation. The test measures the speed at which red blood cells settle at the bottom of a tube. When inflammation is present, it causes the blood cells to clump together and settle more quickly.

An ESR test won’t indicate on its own whether you have RA. Other tests, such as a C-reactive protein test, may be required. In addition, if you are advanced in age, pregnant, or have kidney problems, some types of cancer, or thyroid disease, these may affect the sed rate.

Antinuclear Antibody Test

An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test measures your blood for antinuclear antibodies, which fight the body’s own tissues. The antibodies bind to the nucleus of a cell. However, many people without RA test positive for ANA, especially women older than 65. Other blood tests, like anti-CCP, can narrow down whether you have a diagnosis of RA. ANA tests check for rheumatic diseases like lupus, as well as nonrheumatic illnesses like autoimmune liver diseases. A rheumatologist will follow up with you if you have a positive ANA test to determine which autoantibodies you have.

What Happens If a Blood Test Is Inconclusive?

Understandably, taking a blood test can bring anxiety and confusion for people who think they may have rheumatoid arthritis. People worry about what happens if a blood test is inconclusive. To avoid an inconclusive result, doctors use multiple blood tests — and consider other medical factors, such as genetics and physical symptoms — to determine a diagnosis of RA. One myRAteam member wrote, “I have RA that doesn’t show up in the blood test. I have to be given a special blood test, which I think costs a lot.”

Other members have had similar problems with blood tests. “My RA has never shown up in blood tests. Because of that, it took years to get a diagnosis. Now I have disfigured hands and feet,” wrote another member.

Which Treatments Follow Blood Tests?

If blood tests lead to a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, doctors may prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs are used to slow the progression of RA. Leflunomide (Arava) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are commonly prescribed DMARDs. Other treatments for RA include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and low-dose corticosteroids. If you have more serious symptoms, you may receive a biologic response modifier, a cytokine inhibitor that can fight autoimmune diseases.

Find Support for Rheumatoid Arthritis

When you join myRAteam, the social network and online support group for those living with rheumatoid arthritis, you gain access to a community of more than 191,000 people who understand what their fellow members are going through.

What has been your experience with blood tests for RA? Do you have questions about how blood tests diagnose RA? Comment below or start a conversation on myRAteam.