What do the results mean?
If rheumatoid factor is found in your blood, it may indicate:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Another autoimmune disease, such lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, juvenile arthritis, or scleroderma
An infection, such as mononucleosis or tuberculosis
Certain cancers, such as leukemia or multiple myeloma
About 20 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis have little or no rheumatoid factor in their blood. So even if your results were normal, your health care provider may order more tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.
If your results were not normal, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a medical condition needing treatment. Some healthy people have rheumatoid factor in their blood, but it's not clear why.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
