Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
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- Also Known As:
- RF Blood Test

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Test Quick Guide
A rheumatoid factor (RF) test detects rheumatoid factor in a patient’s blood. Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody produced by the immune system. While normal antibodies attack pathogens like bacteria and viruses, autoantibodies such as RF mistakenly attack the body’s healthy cells and tissues.
Testing for rheumatoid factor is most often used in conjunction with other laboratory and imaging tests to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren syndrome. An RF test may also be helpful in distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis from other autoimmune disorders.
About the Test
Purpose of the test
The purpose of testing for rheumatoid factor is to determine if a patient has RF in their blood. While some healthy people have detectable RF, a positive result on an RF test can also indicate an underlying health condition and may warrant additional diagnostic testing in patients with other signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disorder. An RF test can help doctors diagnose autoimmune disorders and estimate disease severity:
- Diagnosing autoimmune disorders: Diagnostic testing may be appropriate for patients with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, or another autoimmune disorder. For example, a patient’s doctor may recommend a test for rheumatoid factor if a patient is experiencing pain and inflammation in multiple joints that isn’t due to another condition.
- Estimating disease severity: Rheumatoid factor testing can also provide doctors with information about the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with higher levels of RF are more likely to have severe rheumatoid arthritis, as well as disease that affects parts of the body outside of the joints, such as the lungs and blood vessels.
Although treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may lower the amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood, repeated testing for RF is not typically used to monitor patients during treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
What does the test measure?
Rheumatoid factor testing measures the amount of the rheumatoid factor in the blood. There are several ways to measure RF, one of which is an antibody titer test. Antibody titer tests detect how much of a specific type of antibody is present in the blood.
The development of RF and how it affects the body is not well understood. Researchers believe that rheumatoid factors may be the result of the body’s response to pathogens, like bacteria or viruses, and other triggers that confuse the immune system.
When should I get rheumatoid factor testing?
A doctor may recommend a rheumatoid factor test if a patient is experiencing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Joint symptoms, including pain, swelling
- Morning stiffness for 30 minutes or longer
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Intermittent fever
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Firm lumps beneath the skin
Rheumatoid factor testing is not used as a screening test for rheumatoid arthritis in patients without symptoms. Most patients who test positive for RF but don’t have symptoms never go on to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctors may also order an RF test while testing for other health conditions. Other conditions in which RF testing may be used include:
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Lupus
- Juvenile arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Certain infections, including mononucleosis or tuberculosis
- Certain types of cancer, including leukemia
- Hepatitis C
Finding a Rheumatoid Factor Test
Taking a Rheumatoid Factor Test
A rheumatoid factor test is performed on a blood sample that is typically taken from a vein in a patient’s arm. The sample of blood can be drawn in a doctor’s office, health clinic, or laboratory.
Rheumatoid Factor Test Results
Receiving test results
Test results are normally available within a few business days of taking a rheumatoid factor test. Results may be shared with a patient over the phone, by mail, or electronically. In some cases, doctors may wait to share the results of RF testing until other testing is completed.
Results from at-home RF testing may take additional time as the test sample must first be mailed to the appropriate laboratory. Test reports may be available through the company’s website or a smartphone app. Some at-home testing companies connect patients to a health professional for support in understanding the test result.
Interpreting test results
After an RF test is completed, test results are reported as either positive or negative. A numerical or titer value may be provided to indicate the level of RF detected in the blood. Negative results may also be called normal, while positive results may be called abnormal.
Reference ranges for this test vary by laboratory and by the type of RF test performed in the analysis. In interpreting test results, it’s important to use the reference ranges provided by an individual laboratory.
Because rheumatoid factor testing is rarely used alone, results of an RF test should be interpreted with caution. A negative test result indicates that little to no RF was found in the blood, but this does not always rule out an underlying health issue. Up to 20% of people with rheumatoid arthritis may have a negative RF test result, and their result may change over time.
Testing positive for rheumatoid factor may indicate an underlying health condition but is insufficient to diagnose a condition on its own. Around 5 to 10% of healthy people have RF detected in their blood. Positive results may also be related to an underlying autoimmune disorder, certain infections, and some types of cancer.
While high levels alone cannot diagnose any condition, research suggests that the higher the amount of RF in the blood, the greater the likelihood that a patient has an autoimmune disorder. In order to diagnose the cause of a patient’s symptoms, doctors often combine RF testing with a physical exam, imaging tests, and laboratory tests such as CCP antibody testing, antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, and a synovial fluid analysis.
Diagnosing autoimmune disorders can be complex, so it’s important to work with a doctor when interpreting test results. Patients may also benefit from consulting with a rheumatologist. Rheumatologists are doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating autoimmune disorders and other conditions of the joints, muscles, and bones. A rheumatologist can help patients understand their test results, as well as answer questions about the process of diagnosing autoimmune disorders.
Are test results accurate?
Rheumatoid factor testing is an important aspect of diagnosing certain health conditions and is generally regarded as accurate. Like any medical test though, RF testing is not perfect. Issues may arise in the processing or analysis of test samples and laboratories take special precautions to reduce the incidence of errors.
In order to reduce the likelihood of false positive results, in which a person tests positive for RF but doesn’t have an underlying health condition, doctors may restrict RF testing to those with a high probability of having rheumatoid arthritis. In patients who aren’t likely to have rheumatoid arthritis based on their history and physical exam, the value of RF is poor, and false positives are more likely to occur.
Do I need follow-up tests?
When evaluating patients for rheumatoid arthritis, RF test results are combined with other tests and the findings of a physical exam. Together, these factors help doctors determine the need for follow-up testing.
In patients with a high probability of having rheumatoid arthritis, positive RF test results may be followed up by testing for CCP antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and c-reactive protein (CRP) to confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. If a CCP antibody test is negative, doctors may recommend antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, a synovial fluid analysis, as well as imaging tests.
If a doctor rules out rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with a positive RF test result, they may perform testing for other disorders that are associated with having detectable RF in the blood. These disorders include other types of arthritis, chronic infections, lung disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.
Questions for your doctor about test results
A patient’s doctor can help to address questions about rheumatoid factor testing and test results. Some questions that may be helpful to review with a doctor include:
- How does my test result help me understand the cause of my symptoms?
- Based on my test result, what is the likelihood that I have rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune disorder?
- Do I need any follow-up tests based on my test result?
Related Tests
How is a rheumatoid factor test different from a cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test?
Rheumatoid factor and CCP are both autoantibodies produced by the immune system that cause disease by mistakenly attacking the body’s healthy tissue. While both types of autoantibodies are tested if doctors suspect rheumatoid arthritis, testing for CCP is considered more specific than testing for RF and can offer more definitive evidence for a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Other related tests
Sources and Resources
The following resources provide additional information about rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid factor testing:
- Arthritis Foundation: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- American College of Rheumatology: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- National Library of Medicine: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sources
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Autoimmune disorders. Updated April 8, 2019. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000816.htm
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Rheumatoid factor (RF). Updated April 8, 2019. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003548.htm
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Venipuncture. Updated April 26, 2019. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003423.htm
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Antibody titer blood test. Updated May 2, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003333.htm
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Antibody. Updated August 13, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002223.htm
American College of Rheumatology. What is a rheumatologist? Updated June 2018. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Health-Care-Team/What-is-a-Rheumatologist
American College of Rheumatology. Rheumatoid arthritis. Updated March 2019. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Rheumatoid-Arthritis
Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments and more. Date unknown. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis
ARUP Consult. Rheumatoid arthritis. Updated October 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://arupconsult.com/content/rheumatoid-arthritis
Baer AN. Diagnosis and classification of Sjögren’s syndrome. In: Fox R, ed. UpToDate. Updated April 29, 2021. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-and-classification-of-sjogrens-syndrome
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Updated July 27, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid-arthritis.html
Firestein GS, Guma M. Pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. In: St Clair EW, ed. UpToDate. Updated February 3, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathogenesis-of-rheumatoid-arthritis
MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Rheumatoid arthritis. Published May 2, 2018. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/rheumatoidarthritis.html
MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. CCP antibody test. Updated July 30, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/ccp-antibody-test/
MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Rheumatoid factor (RF) test. Updated December 3, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/rheumatoid-factor-rf-test/
MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. What you need to know about blood testing. Updated March 9, 2021. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/what-you-need-to-know-about-blood-testing/
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis. Updated September 2019. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis
Schmerling RH. Lab interpretation: Positive rheumatoid factor (RF). In: O’Dell J, ed. UpToDate. Updated March 26, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/positive-rheumatoid-factor-rf
Shmerling RH. Rheumatoid factor: Biology and utility of measurement. In: Wener MH, ed. UpToDate. Updated April 8, 2021. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/rheumatoid-factor-biology-and-utility-of-measurement
Taylor PC, Deleuran B. Biologic markers in the diagnosis and assessment of rheumatoid arthritis. In: O’Dell J, ed. UpToDate. Updated December 23, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/biologic-markers-in-the-diagnosis-and-assessment-of-rheumatoid-arthritis
Venables PJW, Baker JF. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. In: O’Dell J, ed. UpToDate. Updated March 15, 2021. Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-and-differential-diagnosis-of-rheumatoid-arthritis
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