Arthritis Panel, LabCorp
Arthritis panel:
- Sedimentation Rate (Westergren)
- Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA)
- Rheumatoid Factor
- hs- CRP C-Reactive Protein
- Uric Acid, Serum
This panel includes:
The C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test measures for a specific type of protein, C-Reactive Protein, which can act as a predictor for cardiovascular disease. Because CRP levels can elevate for other reasons like inflammation and infections, the test is often ordered in conjunction with other predictive cardiovascular tests.
This test is not typically used on its own for diagnosis, but it can be a useful addition depending on the patient and their medical history.
The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) blood test (also called sedimentation rate/sed rate) is the rate that red blood cells (RBCs) settle in a period of one hour. The more red blood cells that settle in one hour (measured in mm/h), the higher the rate. The ESR blood test has been used for years to detect diseases associated with inflammation, such as an infection; an autoimmune disease; heart disease or cancer; ESR is also increased in pregnancy or with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid factor test measures the amount of rheumatoid factor in your blood. Rheumatoid factors are proteins produced by your immune system that can attack healthy tissue in your body. High levels of rheumatoid factor in the bloodstream are most often associated with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome.
The Uric Acid Serum Test measures uric acid serum levels to detect potential kidney issues, and/or a condition called gout. Uric Acid is a waste product that is typically filtered out by the kidneys and passed via urination and defecation. If the kidneys fail to remove Uric Acid from the blood, it can indicate an issue with kidney function. In addition, elevated levels of Uric Acid can cause crystals to develop in the joints and tissues, leading to gout. If left untreated, gout can cause painful deposits called tophi to grow in the joints and nearby tissues.
The Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) test detects the amount of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the bloodstream. Our immune systems usually make antibodies to help fight infection. In contrast, antinuclear antibodies can often attack our body's own tissues-specifically targeting each cell's nucleus
