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A 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 blood are most often associated with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. But rheumatoid factor may be detected in some healthy people, and people with autoimmune diseases sometimes have normal levels of rheumatoid factor.

Results are usually reported in one of two ways:

  • Less than 40-60 u/mL
  • Less than 1:80 (1 to 80) titer

A low number (normal result) usually means you do not have rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren syndrome. However, some people who do have these conditions still have a "normal" or low rheumatoid factor (RF).

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results MeanAn abnormal result means the test is positive, which means higher levels of rheumatoid factor have been detected in your blood.
  • Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren syndrome have positive RF tests.
  • The higher the level, the more likely one of these conditions is present. There are also other tests for these disorders that help make the diagnosis.
  • Not everyone with higher levels of rheumatoid factor has rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren syndrome.

Your provider may do another blood test (anti-CCP antibody) to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.

People with the following diseases may also have higher levels of rheumatoid factor:

  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Adult Still's disease
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Sarcoidosis

Higher-than-normal levels of RF may be seen in people with other medical problems. However, these higher RF levels cannot be used to diagnose these other conditions:

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11y ago

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Related Questions

What do you mean by Rheumatoid arthritis factor?

Rheumatoid factor (RF or RhF) is an antibody that attacs an organism's own tissue. omos often found in About 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have detectable rheumatoid factor. Those who do not are said to be "seronegative".Rheumatoid factor can also be a (antibody that precipitates on cooling of a blood sample); it can be either type 2 (monoclonal IgM to polyclonal IgG) or 3 (polyclonal IgM to polyclonal IgG)


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Yes, as a matter of fact you can have RA with no rheumatoid factor at all.


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At this stage the reason for rheumatoid factor is still unknown.


Other associated names for rheumatoid factor?

It seems that rheumatoid factor is the only name that is used for it.


If your Rheumatoid factor is lower than the previous blood test what does this mean?

This is not known as the cause of it is unknown as well as the relationship between RF and the activity of the disease.


Can you have rheumatoid arthritis with a factor 11.5?

You can have it with or without any factor.


When reading lab results for Rheumatoid factor -5.0?

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What is a negative rheumatoid factor?

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Does Prednisone affect a rheumatoid factor test?

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Is a Rheumatoid Factor of 14 high enough to indicate RA?

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