- Wellness Checkup: Suitable for individuals requiring assessment to evaluate the overall impact of arthritis on general health.
- Osteoporosis: Recommended for elderly individuals, especially women, to comprehensively assess bone health, and essential for those with chronic arthritis or undergoing long-term arthritis treatment.
- Kidney: Advised for patients on long-term arthritis medication to monitor potential nephrotoxic effects.
- Liver: Recommended for individuals on prolonged arthritis therapy to evaluate possible hepatotoxicity.
Early detection of arthritis is crucial for accurately diagnosing the specific type of arthritis and its underlying cause. This facilitates the development of an effective treatment plan, promptly preventing joint damage and improving the likelihood of joint recovery. Additionally, early diagnosis allows for timely lifestyle adjustments to ensure long-term joint health.
No. The Arthritis Panel at DIAG only performs blood and urine tests.
No, blood and urine test results can provide valuable information to support the diagnosis of different types of arthritis, but they may not always be sufficient to pinpoint the exact type. This is because many forms of arthritis share similar symptoms and manifestations, requiring additional imaging tests or clinical examinations to accurately identify the specific type of arthritis.
The Anti-CCP test is highly specific and valuable for predicting rheumatoid arthritis, while the ANA test helps detect autoimmune diseases other than rheumatoid arthritis, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Sjögren’s syndrome. Combining these two tests is particularly useful in distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis from other autoimmune diseases that may also cause arthritis.
If the ANA test result is positive but the Anti-CCP test is negative, you might have systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren’s syndrome rather than rheumatoid arthritis. If both Anti-CCP and ANA test results are positive, you may have rheumatoid arthritis and should be further evaluated for concurrent autoimmune conditions to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Joint swelling and pain that is symmetrical and widespread (often affecting fingers, hands, wrists, knees, ankles, feet).
- Persistent joint pain throughout the day, typically worsening at night.
- Morning stiffness in the joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes swelling, pain, stiffness in the joints, commonly affecting small joints such as fingers and wrists.
- Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease resulting from aging or injury, causing pain and limited mobility in larger joints such as the knees, hips, spine.
- Infectious arthritis: A condition caused by bacterial, viral, fungal infections, often affecting the knees, hips, elbows or ankles.
- Gout: A metabolic disorder involving uric acid imbalance, leading to pain and redness in smaller joints such as fingers and toes.
You should consult a rheumatologist or an orthopedic specialist for an accurate diagnosis. Joint pain may not always be caused by arthritis; it could result from conditions such as osteoarthritis or joint injuries.
Complications vary depending on the type of arthritis:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Joint deformity, rheumatoid nodules near joints, Sjögren’s syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pericarditis, vasculitis.
- Gout: Joint deformity, septic arthritis, sepsis, kidney stones, kidney failure.
- Septic arthritis: Joint deformity, osteoarthritis, joint ankylosis, joint stiffness, sepsis.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Chronic arthritis, atherosclerosis, kidney failure.
You can reduce the risk of arthritis through healthy habits, such as:
- Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and mackerel.
- Exercise regularly to improve and strengthen joint health.
- Maintain a healthy weight to avoid being overweight or obese.
- Minimize bone and joint injuries that may impact joint health.
Arthritis Panel – Basic:
- If DIAG’s lab receives the sample before 9:30 PM (Mon – Sat) or before 8:30 PM (Sun), test results will be available after 2 hours and 30 minutes on the same day.
- If DIAG’s lab receives the sample after 9:30 PM (Mon – Sat) or before 8:30 PM (Sun), test results will be available at 8:00 AM the next day.
Arthritis Panel – Advanced:
- If DIAG’s lab receives the sample before 7:00 AM (Mon – Sat), test results will be available after 12:00 PM on the same day.
- If DIAG’s lab receives the sample after 7:00 AM (Mon – Sat), test results will be available the next day.


