Rheumatoid Factor (RF)

What To Think About

• A small number of people have a high RF level but do not have rheumatoid arthritis. A small number of these people will later have rheumatoid arthritis.
• A health professional always uses the results of an RF test along with information gained from a medical history and physical examination before diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
• Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) is an antibody that is found in the blood of more than half of all people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Older adults who do not have rheumatoid arthritis sometimes have a slightly high RF level.
• Some people have rheumatoid arthritis and have a normal level of RF. The RF test may need to be repeated if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected and the first RF level was normal.
• Less than one-third of children who have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have a high RF level.
• The RF level can also be measured in fluid from a joint (synovial fluid). However, this is rarely done.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: June 16, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
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