Description

Arthritis by definition is inflammation of the joints. This can have multiple causes. It is important to determine the cause of your arthritis as treatment is different and typically more effective if started early. With joint pain it is helpful to have screening lab test to guide you in your journey toward joint health.

This panel includes the following test:

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Screen with Reflex to Titer and Pattern Test

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Factor

Sedimentation Rate

Uric acid

Fasting not required.

Additional information about each test is listed below:

An "Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Screen with Reflex to Titer and Pattern Test" is used to help diagnose autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, by detecting the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the blood, which can indicate the body's immune system is attacking its own tissues; if the initial screen is positive, further testing is done to determine the exact level (titer) and pattern of these antibodies to better identify the specific autoimmune condition involved.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is used in arthritis diagnosis, particularly for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, as a marker of systemic inflammation in the body, helping doctors assess the severity of the inflammatory process within the joints and monitor treatment effectiveness by tracking changes in CRP levels; a high CRP level indicates significant inflammation present.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Factor – The test for (RA) rheumatoid factor is used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. The test may also help diagnose an arthritis-related condition, such as Sjogren's syndrome. About 80% to 90% of patients with this syndrome have high amounts of RA in their blood.

 

Sedimentation Rate – a blood test used to screen for inflammation, cancer, and infection. A high sedimentation rate is found in wide varieties of inflammatory, infectious, and malignant diseases – the presence of an abnormality that needs further evaluation.

Uric acid, when present in excessive amounts, is the primary cause of "gouty arthritis," a form of inflammatory arthritis where high uric acid levels in the blood crystallize within joints, leading to severe pain, swelling, and redness, typically affecting the big toe or other lower limb joints; essentially, the purpose of uric acid in this context is to trigger a painful inflammatory response when it builds up in the joints and forms crystals.