Fasting Required: Yes – 10 to 12 hours
Specimen: Blood
Results: 5-7 Business Days
Description:
Lupus is a chronic disease that can affect any part of the body with signs and symptoms that tend to last for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, and causes the body to create autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies are the cause of inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Tests included:
ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies): ANA is a group of special antibodies produced by a person’s immune system when it fails to adequately distinguish between “self” and “nonself.” These autoantibodies attack the body’s own cells, causing signs and symptoms such as tissue and organ inflammation, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. The presence of ANA is associated with several autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Sjögren’s syndrome but is most commonly seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
CRP, Quantitative: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver and secreted into the bloodstream within a few hours after the start of an infection or inflammation. CRP levels can jump a thousand-fold in response to inflammation. If the CRP level in your blood drops, it means that the inflammation is being reduced.
CBC: The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is used as a broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and many other diseases.
CMP-14: Frequently ordered group of 14 laboratory tests that gives important information about the current status of your health.
This includes Glucose, BUN, Creatinine, BUN/Creatinine Ratio, Glomerular Filtration (eGFR), Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Carbon Dioxide, Calcium, Total Protein, Albumin, Total Globulin, Albumin/Globulin Ratio, Total Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, AST (SGOT), and ALT (SGPT).
Rheumatoid Factor (RA): The test for rheumatoid factor is used to help diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and an arthritis-related condition called Sjögren’s syndrome. About 80% to 90% of patients with this syndrome have high amounts of RA in their blood. It is also used to help distinguish RA and Sjögren’s syndrome from other forms of arthritis or conditions that cause similar symptoms such as Lupus.
Sed Rate: An indirect measure of the degree of inflammation present in the body. It is used to screen for inflammation, cancer, and infection. A high sed rate is found in a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, and malignant diseases – the presence of an abnormality which needs further evaluation.
Uric Acid: Used to learn whether the body might be breaking down cells too quickly or not getting rid of uric acid quickly enough. The test also is used to monitor levels of uric acid when a patient has had chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
