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by Carson-DeWitt R

Screening for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Tests

There are no screening tests available for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. If your doctor suspects that you have rheumatoid arthritis, he may check an anti-citrullinated protein level in your blood to help make an early diagnosis. However, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is usually determined clinically, based on your symptoms, laboratory, and radiographic findings.

References

Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .

Conn’s Current Therapy . 54th ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2002.

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