Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Test- Why am I having this test?
Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Test is done to:
- Diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes inflammation in the joints.
- Determine the severity of your RA, including how much worse it is getting (progression).
This test may be done if you have unexplained joint inflammation and have previously tested negative for rheumatoid factor. It may also be done if you have been diagnosed with undifferentiated arthritis and your health care provider suspects rheumatoid arthritis.
What is being tested?
This test checks your blood for the presence of anticyclic-citrullinated peptide antibodies. Antibodies are cells that are part of the body’s disease-fighting (immune) system. These antibodies appear early in the course of RA and are thought to be directly involved in the progression of the disease.
What kind of sample is taken?
A blood sample is required for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.
How are the results reported?
Your test results will be reported as either positive or negative. A result is considered negative if there is less than 20 units of the antibody per mL of blood.
What do the results mean?
- A positive blood test may mean that you have RA.
- A negative blood test means that it is less likely that you have RA. However, a negative test does not completely rule out rheumatoid arthritis.
Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
Questions to ask your health care provider
Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my results be ready?
- How will I get my results?
- What are my treatment options?
- What other tests do I need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- The anticyclic-citrullinated peptide antibody blood test may be done to help your health care provider diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- This test checks your blood for the presence of anticyclic-citrullinated peptide antibodies. These antibodies appear early in the course of RA.
- A positive blood test may mean that you have RA.
