What to Expect

Your initial visit may consist of a collection of data to include any previous treatments, medications you may have tried, your medical history and current symptoms in order to determine what studies, including blood work, will assist your rheumatologist in the diagnosis and treatment of your condition.

Your follow up appointment(s) will be geared towards treatment options and maintenance care often based on those results obtained from your initial visit. 

**Please note:  The Rheumatology Center only provides collection services for blood work and sends blood to local labs for testing.   If you have a lab preference, please be sure to let our clinical staff know! 

Below you will find a list of the items we may test for in your lab work:

ESR (Erthrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
ESR is a measure of any inflammatory activity in your body.

CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
A blood test measuring the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein in your blood. C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body.

Anti-CCP Antibody
This blood test can show the presence of markers associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) development.

RF (Rheumatoid Factor)
A rheumatoid factor blood test measures the amount of the RF antibody present in the blood and correlated with the RA.

HLA-B27
This blood test looks for a protein found on the surface of white blood cells. The protein is called human leukocyte antigen B27. HLA-B27 is associated with genetic risk for a family of arthritic disorders known as spondyloarthropathies.

Creatinine
This blood test measures the patient’s kidney function.

ANA Hep-2
This blood test may indicate the presence of any auto-immune disorders.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is another test to indicate kidney function.