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The RF test is a blood test that is often used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The RF test finds and measures the amount of RF in your blood. Read what the study is all about and how to interpret the test results.
Rheumatoid factors (RF) are antibodies against the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Ig) G. RF testing detects rheumatoid factor in the blood.
RF tests are primarily used to diagnose and predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, rheumatoid factor may also be present in other rheumatic diseases and other conditions, including acute and chronic infections and neoplastic diseases.
You can buy a blood test for rheumatic diseases at Medonet Market in a safe and convenient way.
RF study – the purpose of the study
The purpose of the RF test is to detect the rheumatoid factor factor in the blood. RF testing can help doctors diagnose autoimmune disorders and estimate the severity of the disease.
RF testing may be appropriate for people with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, or another autoimmune disorder. For example, your doctor may recommend rheumatoid factor testing if you experience pain and inflammation in many joints that are not caused by another disease.
Rheumatoid factor testing can also provide doctors with information about the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. People with higher RF levels are more likely to develop severe rheumatoid arthritis as well as diseases that affect parts of the body outside of the joints, such as the lungs and blood vessels.
Although rheumatoid arthritis treatment can lower the amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood, multiple RF testing is not typically used to monitor patients during rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
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Your doctor may recommend rheumatoid factor testing if you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- joint swelling and pain
- morning joint stiffness for 30 minutes or more
- general fatigue,
- fever,
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- general weakness,
- dry eyes and mouth.
Rheumatoid factor testing is not used as a screening test for rheumatoid arthritis in people without any symptoms.
Most people who test positive for RF but have no symptoms will not develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Your doctor may also order an RF test to help diagnose other conditions, such as:
- Sjogren’s syndrome,
- lupus,
- juvenile arthritis,
- systemic scleroderma,
- mononucleosis,
- tuberculosis,
- certain types of cancer, including leukemia
- hepatitis C.
See: Drug-induced lupus – a rare complication of treatment
For RF testing, you only need a blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm. The standard procedure involves decontaminating the skin, applying a tourniquet and performing a puncture. You should report on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning.
It is also recommended to avoid fatty, heavy meals and alcohol on the day before blood sampling, and to rest for 15 minutes immediately before the test.
Rheumatoid factors are detected by the following tests:
- Latex test,
- Waaler-Rose test,
- Immunochemical methods (e.g. ELISA),
- Testing with the nephelometric method in automatic analyzers.
RF study – interpretation of results
RF test results are reported as positive or negative. A numerical value may be given to indicate the level of RF detected in the blood. Negative results can also be called normal and positive results can be called abnormal.
The reference ranges for the RF study vary depending on the laboratory and the type of RF study performed in the analysis. It is important to use the reference ranges provided by each individual laboratory when interpreting the test results.
As rheumatoid factor testing is rarely used alone, RF test results should be interpreted with caution. A negative test result indicates that little or no rheumatoid factors have been detected in the blood, but this does not always rule out an underlying health problem. As many as 20% of people with rheumatoid arthritis may be RF negative and may change over time.
A positive rheumatoid factor test may indicate an underlying medical condition, but is insufficient for self-diagnosis. About 5 to 10% of healthy people have RF detected in their blood. Positive results can also be associated with an underlying autoimmune disorder, certain infections, and certain types of cancer.
While a high level alone cannot diagnose any condition, research suggests that the higher the amount of RF in the blood, the more likely the patient is to have an autoimmune disorder. To diagnose the cause of symptoms, doctors often combine RF testing with a physical exam, imaging tests, and laboratory tests such as CCP antibody testing, antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, and synovial fluid analysis.
Diagnosing autoimmune disorders can be complex, so working with your healthcare professional is important when interpreting test results. Patients can also consult a rheumatologist. Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating autoimmune disorders and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. A rheumatologist can help patients understand their test results as well as answer questions about the autoimmune disorder diagnosis process.