RA Expanded Profile

Test ID: 

705276

CPT code:

86431, 86140, 86200, 85652

Clinical Use:

According to the American College of Rheumatology 2010 Classification Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis, “measurements of Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor (RF), anti-CCP, ESR, and CRP are included as a part of the diagnostic algorithm. To classify a patient as having or not having definite RA, a history of symptom duration, a thorough joint evaluation, and at least 1 serologic test (RF or anti-CCP) and 1 acute-phase response measure (ESR or CRP) must be obtained.”1

Test Information:

“It is acknowledged that an individual patient may meet the definition of RA without requiring that all tests be performed. For example, patients with a sufficient number of joints involved and longer duration of symptoms will meet criteria regardless of their serologic or acute-phase response status. The classification criteria can be applied to any patient or otherwise healthy individual, as long as 2 mandatory requirements are met: first, there must be evidence of currently active clinical synovitis (i.e., swelling) in at least 1 joint as determined by an expert assessor. Second, the criteria may be applied only to those patients in whom the observed synovitis is not better explained by another diagnosis.”

Specimen Type:

Serum and Whole blood

Requested Volume: 

Whole blood: 2 mL and serum: 1.5 mL

Container Type: 

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube and gel-barrier tube or red-top tube.

Patient Preparation: 

See individual tests.

Collection:

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube and gel-barrier tube or red-top tube.

Storage Instructions:

Refrigerate. Serum is stable for seven days at room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen for 14 days. Freeze/thaw cycles: stable x3. Whole blood: 24 hours

Rejection Criteria

Hemolysis; lipemia; clotted, underfilled tube; specimen older than 24 hours, improper labeling, transport tubes with whole blood, specimen received in any anticoagulant other than EDTA; specimen diluted or contaminated with IV fluid; patient specimen with presence of cold agglutinins or cryoglobulins; specimen received with plasma removed