Rheumatoid Factor

Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum

Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Room temperature 1 week,
Refrigerated 14 days

Reject Criteria

Gross hemolysis
Lipemia

Methodology Nephlometry

Clinical Significance Elevated RF is found in collagen vascular diseases such as SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren’s Syndrome, and in other conditions such as leprosy, tuberculosis, syphilis, malignancy, thyroid disease and in a significant percentage of otherwise normal elderly patients