Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: You should maintain a stable diet for 2 to 3 weeks and fast for 14 to 16 hours before your blood collection. Stop biotin supplements at least 72 hours prior, and avoid exercise before the test.
- Turnaround: 3 to 4 days. This may take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
What's Included
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune Markers
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP): A sensitive, fast-responding marker of inflammation, used to help identify infections, inflammatory conditions, and to track your response to anti-inflammatory treatment.
- Rheumatoid Factor (RF): Helps you screen for rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions such as Sjogren's syndrome.
- ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies): Helps you screen for lupus and other autoimmune conditions, often used alongside your symptoms and other lab findings.
- Antinuclear Antibodies, IFA: Includes an ANA Screen, IFA, with reflex to titer and pattern (not included with LabCorp).
Important: The ANA test included in this panel varies by laboratory. The LabCorp version includes the Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Direct Blood Test, Qualitative, while the Quest Diagnostics version includes the ANA Screen, IFA, with Reflex to Titer and Pattern Blood Test. Both tests evaluate antinuclear antibodies for autoimmune disease assessment but use different methods and may differ in reflex testing and result reporting. Results should be interpreted along with your symptoms, medical history, and other laboratory findings.
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): Screens for inflammation, infection, and other abnormalities that may need further evaluation.
- Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) Antibodies, IgG/IgA: Supports your rheumatoid arthritis evaluation alongside other clinical and lab findings.
- Complement C3: Helps assess whether your complement system is contributing to increased infections or autoimmune activity, and helps monitor autoimmune disease activity.
- Creatine Kinase (CPK): Reflects enzyme activity from your muscle, heart, and brain tissue.
- Aldolase: Helps evaluate muscle wasting processes and monitor certain muscle conditions.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Glucose: Your blood sugar level, used to help evaluate and monitor diabetes.
- Uric Acid: Reflects the breakdown of cells and certain foods in your body.
- Sodium: Supports your body's water balance and nerve and muscle activity.
- Potassium: Helps control your nerve and muscle function.
- Chloride: Helps maintain your body's electrolyte balance.
- Carbon Dioxide, Total: Helps detect and monitor electrolyte imbalances.
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio: Helps you evaluate kidney function.
- Creatinine: A marker used alongside BUN to assess kidney function.
- eGFR: Estimates how well your kidneys are filtering waste.
- Albumin: A blood protein used to help assess your nutritional and liver status.
- Globulin, Total: A blood protein evaluated alongside albumin.
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio: A calculated ratio used in liver and overall protein assessment.
- Protein, Total: Reflects your overall protein status.
- ALT: A liver enzyme used to help assess liver health.
- AST: A liver enzyme evaluated alongside ALT.
- Alkaline Phosphatase: An enzyme used to help assess liver and bone health.
- GGT: A liver enzyme used to support liver evaluation.
- Bilirubin, Total: Reflects liver function and red blood cell breakdown.
- Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LD): An enzyme used to help evaluate tissue health.
Mineral and Bone
- Iron, Total: Low results may indicate iron deficiency anemia.
- Calcium: Supports bone, teeth, muscle, nerve, and clotting function.
- Phosphorus: Supports energy production, muscle and nerve function, and bone formation.
Lipid Panel with Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio
- Cholesterol, Total: A measure of the sterol in your blood, relevant to heart health.
- Triglycerides: Reflects fat in your blood that supplies energy to your cells.
- HDL Cholesterol: Known as "good" cholesterol, helps carry cholesterol away from your cells.
- LDL Cholesterol: Known as "bad" cholesterol, may contribute to buildup on artery walls.
- Non-HDL Cholesterol: A calculated measure that reflects cholesterol carried outside of HDL.
- Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio: A calculated ratio used to help assess relative cardiovascular risk.
(Not Included with LabCorp) A reflexive direct LDL test will be performed on Triglyceride results over 400 mg/dL.
Thyroid Panel with TSH
- Total T4 (Thyroxine): Thyroid hormone measurement.
- T3 Uptake: Component of thyroid hormone assessment.
- Free-Thyroxine Index (FTI/T7): Calculated thyroid hormone index.
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Regulates thyroid hormone production.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential and Platelets
- White Blood Cells (WBC): Supports immune defense and infection response.
- Red Blood Cells (RBC): Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
- Hemoglobin: Transports oxygen through the bloodstream.
- Hematocrit: Percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells.
- Lymphocytes: White blood cell type involved in immune function.
- Monocytes: White blood cell type involved in immune function.
- Neutrophils: White blood cell type involved in immune function.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): Average hemoglobin concentration per red blood cell.
Benefits
- Screens for rheumatoid arthritis and related autoimmune activity.
- Supports monitoring of disease severity over time.
- Helps track your response to ongoing treatment.
- Helps detect potential treatment-related side effects.
- Pairs autoimmune markers with a broad wellness panel.
- Covers metabolic, lipid, thyroid, and blood cell health in one draw.
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals wanting to screen for rheumatoid arthritis or autoimmune activity.
- Those currently monitoring an existing autoimmune or inflammatory condition.
- People wanting to track their response to ongoing treatment.
- Individuals wanting a broad wellness check alongside autoimmune screening.
- Those working with a healthcare provider to follow disease activity over time.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This panel combines rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune markers, including CRP, Rheumatoid Factor, ANA, ESR, CCP antibodies, Complement C3, Creatine Kinase, and Aldolase, with the Wellness #2 Essential Panel. Together, these help you screen for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease activity while also reviewing your metabolic, lipid, thyroid, and blood cell health. This panel does not diagnose any condition on its own.
2. Who would benefit from this test?
This panel may benefit individuals who want to screen for rheumatoid arthritis or autoimmune activity, as well as those already managing a related condition who want to monitor disease activity or treatment response. It may also suit anyone wanting a broader look at their overall wellness alongside these markers.
3. When should I order this panel?
You might consider this panel as part of a general screening effort, or to help monitor a known autoimmune or inflammatory condition over time. It can also support follow-up after starting or adjusting a treatment plan. This panel does not provide a diagnosis on its own.
4. Do I need to fast before this test?
Yes. You should maintain a stable diet for 2 to 3 weeks and fast for 14 to 16 hours before your blood collection. Stop biotin supplements at least 72 hours prior, and avoid exercise before the test.
5. How quickly will I get results?
You can expect results in 3 to 4 days. This may take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
6. How do I interpret the results?
Your results are best understood as a pattern across multiple biomarkers, rather than any single value on its own. Changes across related markers, such as your autoimmune and inflammatory tests, often carry more meaning together than any one result alone. Be sure to discuss your full results with your healthcare provider, who can interpret them in the context of your health history.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
If any of your results fall outside the expected range, share them with your healthcare provider. They can help you understand what the results mean for you and whether any follow-up testing or care is needed.
8. How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on your individual health circumstances and any conditions you may be monitoring. Follow up as directed by your healthcare provider to determine what testing schedule is right for you.
9. Why early detection matters
Reviewing autoimmune and inflammatory markers alongside a broader wellness panel may help support earlier awareness of changes in your health and ongoing monitoring over time. This panel is a supportive tool and does not guarantee detection of any condition.
Pre-test preparation
You should maintain a stable diet for 2 to 3 weeks and fast for 14 to 16 hours before your blood collection. Stop biotin supplements at least 72 hours prior, and avoid exercise before the test.
Do not stop prescribed medication unless instructed by your healthcare provider.
