Rheumatoid Arthritis Test
Rheumatoid Arthritis Test
Measure levels of certain proteins and antibodies in your blood that are associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues and causes painful swelling in joints and other organs. Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Blood
Preparation:
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection.
Fasting is not required for this test.
What
This test checks your blood for proteins and autoantibodies associated with RA.
Who
Anyone who suffers from stiff, painful, or swollen joints, or suspects they may have RA. Must be 18 years of age to purchase.
How
Blood
Where
Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.
About the Test
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack healthy cells instead of bacteria or viruses. This disease causes painful swelling in the parts of the body being attacked, typically your joints (eg, wrists, knees, and hands) but also other tissues like your eyes, lungs, and heart. The damage caused to tissues can lead to long-term pain, poor balance, and misshaped joints. Symptoms typically begin between 30-50 years of age. Our Rheumatoid Arthritis Test looks for certain proteins and autoantibodies in your blood to help detect RA. This information, along with clinical history and physical examination, can be used to identify next steps.
How it works
questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.
FAQs
Antibodies are proteins in your blood that your body’s immune system makes when it meets something that is not supposed to be in your body, such as a virus or bacteria. This helps our body to fight off disease. Autoantibodies are also proteins in your blood, but they are made in response to our own body’s tissue. This causes our body to think of itself as a threat and tries to fight it, causing damage and keeping our body from working the right way.
You may be more likely to develop RA if you have any of the following risk factors:
- Sex – Females are two to three times more likely to develop RA.
- Age – Risk of developing RA increases with older age.
- Family History/Genetics – Being related to someone who has RA, and several genetic factors may increase the risk of developing RA.
- Obesity – Being obese increases risk of developing RA and treatment may not be as effective.
- Periodontitis – Diseased gums may cause an increased risk of developing RA.
- Smoking – Long periods of smoking increases risk of developing RA, and continued smoking can increase the effects of the disease.
- Lung Disease – Diseased lungs and airways may cause in an increased risk of developing RA.
You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.