When you see your doctor, you’ll get a physical exam and talk about your personal and family medical histories. You may also get blood tests to help see if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Those check for:
You may also get an X-ray or, less frequently, an MRI to check on possible joint damage. And your doctor may take a sample of your synovial fluid, which comes from your joints.
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Rheumatoid factor (RF), found in about 70% to 80% of people with RA
- “Sed” rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). High levels are a sign of inflammation.
- Antibodies to a chemical called CCP
- High levels of CRP (C-reactive protein)