Test Catalog

Test Id : RHUT

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Rheumatoid Factor, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Connective Tissue Disease Cascade.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Turbidimetry

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Rheumatoid Factor, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Factor

RF (Rheumatoid Factor)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Connective Tissue Disease Cascade.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Additional Testing Requirements

An alternative or complementary assay to rheumatoid factor (RF) that has demonstrated utility in the diagnosis and assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is CCP / Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies, IgG, Serum. Utilization of both tests can provide clinical value in the diagnosis of RA. RF is not specific and may be present in other inflammatory rheumatic diseases and nonrheumatic diseases as well as in nonaffected individuals, especially in those 60 years of age or older.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Renal Diagnostics Test Request (T830) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.75 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Ambient 14 days
Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Connective Tissue Disease Cascade.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Rheumatoid factors (RF) are a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies associated with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but can also be found in other inflammatory rheumatic and nonrheumatic conditions. They can also be detected in some healthy individuals aged 60 years and older. Despite being nonspecific, the detection of RF or anti-citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibody is part of the 2010 diagnosis criterion of the American College of Rheumatology for classification of RA. More than 75% of patients with RA have an IgM antibody to IgG. The titer of RF correlates poorly with disease activity, but those patients with high titers tend to have more severe disease and, thus, a poorer prognosis than seronegative patients.

 

A meta-analysis compared the sensitivity and specificity of IgM RF versus anti-CCP antibody. For IgM RF, the sensitivity was 69% (CI, 65%-73%) and specificity was 85% (CI, 82%-88%). For comparison, the sensitivity for anti-CCP antibody was 67% (95% CI, 62%-72%) and 95% (CI, 94%-97%).(1) Both anti-CCP and RF are useful in the diagnosis of RA, and the use of both tests has been shown to increase diagnostic sensitivity.(2)

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

<15 IU/mL

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Positive results are consistent with, but not specific for, rheumatoid arthritis.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Nonrheumatoid and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) populations are not clearly separate with regard to the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) (15% of RA patients have a nonreactive titer and 8% of nonrheumatoid patients have a positive titer). Patients with various nonrheumatoid diseases characterized by chronic inflammation may test positive for RF. These diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, tuberculosis, syphilis, viral hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, and influenza. RF factor antibodies have been observed in non-affected individuals, particularly in patients 60 years of age or older.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Nishimura K, Sugiyama D, Kogata Y, et al. Meta-analysis: diagnostic accuracy of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatoid factor for rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(11):797-808

2. Chang PY, Yang CT, Cheng CH, Yu KH. Diagnostic performance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2016;19(9):880-886

3. Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62(9):2569-2581

4. Smolen JS, Alethaha D, McInnes IB. Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2016;388:2023-2038

5. Roberts-Thomson PJ, McEvoy R, Langhans T, Bradley J. Routine quantification of rheumatoid factor by rate nephelometry. Ann Rheum Dis. 1985;44:379-383

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The Roche rheumatoid factors (RF-II) assay is an immunoturbidimetric assay. Latex-bound heat-inactivated IgG (antigen) reacts with the rheumatoid factor (RF) antibodies in the sample to form antigen/antibody complexes, that following agglutination, are measured turbidimetrically. Rheumatoid factors are autoantibodies that are directed against the Fc fragment of IgG. The autoantibodies occur in all immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, and IgM). The Roche RF II assay measures all 3 types of autoantibodies. However, as the IgA and IgG types typically exhibit lower concentrations, the reaction against IgM autoantibodies predominates in this assay.(Package insert: RF-II, Rheumatoid Factors II. Roche Diagnostics; V 9.0 English, 02/2020)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

86431

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
RHUT Rheumatoid Factor, S 11572-5
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
RHUT Rheumatoid Factor, S 11572-5

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports