Rheumatoid Factors are auto-antibodies produced by your body’s immune system that can sometimes cause disease. Having high levels of Rheumatoid Factor is usually associated with autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren’s syndrome. However, some healthy people also have elevated but usually low levels of rheumatoid factor, and not everyone with an autoimmune disease has elevated levels of rheumatoid factor.

Please reach out now to see if you qualify to donate plasma to help diagnostics and medical research for rheumatoid arthritis! Compensation is $185 for each completed plasma donation.

Can you test for rheumatoid factor?

Yes. The rheumatoid factor blood test measures the amount in a person’s blood. This test is a key part of the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. Other tests used to find a diagnosis include an anti-nuclear antibody test, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies test. A person’s doctor determines which tests are needed.

Why is rheumatoid factor important to researchers?

Rheumatoid factor antibodies are necessary positive controls in the manufacture of rheumatoid factor medical laboratory diagnostic test kits. Because RA treatments have become quite effective in the treatment of most patients, it has become quite difficult to find plasma donors with high rheumatoid factor levels. In turn, it has become more difficult to develop vital test kits – the same type of test kits used to help diagnose individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

If I have a high rheumatoid factor level, how can I help?

If you or someone you know currently has a rheumatoid factor titer (level) greater than 500 IU/ml, your help is desperately needed! Please consider donating plasma at PlasmaLab in Everett, WA. If you have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, it is highly likely your physician has already run blood tests to determine your rheumatoid factor titer. You should be able to find out what yours is simply by asking your doctor or looking up your test results if you have ready access to them.

If you donate at PlasmaLab, your antibody-rich plasma will support the diagnostic community and fellow RA patients! Qualifying candidates may participate in multiple plasma donations throughout the year. Donors traveling 50+ miles may qualify for a travel stipend. Out-of-state donors will also be considered.