Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Test

If you are found to have RA, it is best to discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider. Patients with more active or severe disease may require medications that suppress the immune system. It is also important to focus on reducing inflammation, supporting joint health, and maintaining quality of life. RA blood tests like this one can help check for autoantibodies related to rheumatoid arthritis and support informed discussions with your healthcare provider about next steps, lifestyle choices, and long-term health planning.

Note: This test is not intended to diagnose or treat rheumatoid arthritis. Results should always be reviewed with your healthcare provider who can determine appropriate follow-up and care.

Individuals with ongoing signs or symptoms or those who have risk factors linked to RA should consider the rheumatoid arthritis test.

Rheumatoid arthritis does not have a single known cause, but certain factors are linked to a higher risk of developing RA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), factors that may be linked to RA include⁴:
 

• Age – RA risk increases with age, especially among adults between 50-59 years old
• Sex – women are two to three times more likely than men to develop RA
• Early life exposures – children whose parents smoked are more likely to develop RA as adults 
• Family history – certain genetic markers can increase the risk of RA
• Smoking – smoking cigarettes significantly increases the risk of developing RA and may also increase the severity of the disease
• Poor dental health - gum disease and poor dental health have been associated with an increased risk of RA

It's important to note that having one or more risk factors does not mean someone will develop rheumatoid arthritis. 

Results show whether certain antibodies that can be seen in rheumatoid arthritis are present. A positive result does not necessarily mean you have active rheumatoid arthritis. A healthcare professional can help explain what your results mean in the context of your symptoms, medical history, and overall health.

After you receive your RA test results, you may choose to review them with your healthcare provider, who can interpret the findings in the context of your symptoms, medical history, and overall health.
 

If your results fall outside expected ranges, you may receive a call from an independent healthcare provider to help review your results and answer questions.
 

Depending on your results and clinical context:
 

• You may consider following up with a primary care clinician or a rheumatologist
• Additional testing may be recommended by your healthcare provider, such as more specific antibody testing, imaging studies, or inflammation markers
• Your healthcare provider can help determine whether any further evaluation is appropriate

Results from this test are one part of a broader health evaluation and should not be used on their own to diagnose or rule out rheumatoid arthritis.

Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order.  If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.  

If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.

To align with clinical best practices, we’ve set an age maximum of 100 for consumer-initiated testing. This limit was set to encourage individuals in more advanced age groups - who may have complex medical needs - to receive personalized guidance about testing from their healthcare providers.