Rheumatology Profile 6 (Rheumatoid Plus) is a blood test that looks for markers linked to rheumatoid arthritis and general inflammation in the joints. It suits anyone with persistent joint pain, stiffness or swelling who wants an initial check before seeing a specialist. The test costs £137.50, plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results back in 3 days. You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week, with no GP referral needed.
This profile is commonly requested when someone has joint pain, morning stiffness or swelling that has lasted more than a few weeks, particularly in the hands, wrists or feet.
It is also used to support monitoring of a known inflammatory joint condition, or when a GP wants an initial picture before referring someone to a rheumatologist.
Some people book it out of family history of rheumatoid arthritis, wanting an early check even without symptoms yet.
Most people do not need to fast before this test and can eat and drink normally beforehand. Follow any specific instruction from your doctor, and mention any current infection or flare-up of joint symptoms to the phlebotomist, as this can affect the CRP result.
A raised Rheumatoid Factor or Anti-CCP result can support a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but both can also be raised for other reasons, and a proportion of people with rheumatoid arthritis have normal results on these tests. A raised CRP simply shows that inflammation is present somewhere, not necessarily in the joints.
None of these markers gives a diagnosis on its own. They are interpreted together with your symptoms, a joint examination and often imaging, usually by a rheumatologist or your GP.
If your joint symptoms are ongoing or getting worse, arrange to see a doctor regardless of what this profile shows.
If you would like a doctor to request the right tests for your symptoms or talk the report through, book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar.
No, a normal result does not fully rule out rheumatoid arthritis, since some people with the condition test negative on these markers. Persistent joint symptoms should still be assessed by a doctor even with a normal report.
Rheumatoid Factor is a more general antibody that can appear in several conditions, while Anti-CCP is more specific to rheumatoid arthritis. Testing both together gives a doctor a fuller picture than either alone.
No, CRP rises with inflammation anywhere in the body, including infections, so a raised result needs to be considered alongside your symptoms rather than read in isolation.
You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street any day of the week, with no GP referral required.