General

Synonym/Acronym:
RF, RA.

Rationale
To primarily assist in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.

Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.

Normal Findings
(Method: Immunoturbidimetric) Less than 14 international units/mL. Elevated values may be detected in healthy adults 60 yr and older. RF is not useful in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A