Rheumatology blood tests london
Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, persistent inflammation and unexplained musculoskeletal symptoms can have many possible causes.
No referral needed to book. Choose the Basic Rheumatology Profile for an initial overview, or the Extended Profile if rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory joint disease is being considered. Not sure which is right for you? Speak to our team before booking.
Rheumatology Blood Tests in London
Joint pain is common, but when it is persistent, associated with swelling or stiffness, or begins to interfere with everyday life, it may be worth investigating what is happening beneath the surface. Blood tests can play an important role in the investigation of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatological symptoms. They can measure inflammation, look for certain antibodies, and provide information about blood cells, kidney and liver function, vitamins and minerals.
However, there is an important distinction: there is no single blood test that can diagnose or exclude rheumatoid arthritis. Blood results need to be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history and clinical examination and, when appropriate, assessment by a rheumatologist.
At Marylebone Diagnostic Centre (MDC) on Baker Street in Central London, we offer a Basic and an Extended Rheumatology Blood Profile for patients looking for private rheumatology blood testing in London. For patients who need specialist assessment, MDC can also help arrange separately booked consultations with experienced Consultant Rheumatologists we work with in the area.
What is rheumatology?
Rheumatology is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the joints, muscles, bones and connective tissues, including many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. One of the best-known rheumatological conditions is rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks tissues around the joints, commonly affecting the hands, feet and wrists. This differs from osteoarthritis, which is primarily associated with changes in the structures of a joint. Early assessment matters: identifying and treating rheumatoid arthritis promptly can help reduce the risk of progressive joint damage.
Who may benefit from rheumatology blood testing?
People looking for a rheumatology blood test often do so because they have symptoms that have not yet been explained, including:
- Persistent joint or muscle pain
- Swollen or tender joints
- Morning stiffness, or stiff fingers and hands
- Pain affecting several joints
- Reduced joint movement
- Unexplained fatigue
- General aches and pains
- Suspected inflammation
- Symptoms affecting the hands, wrists or feet
- Recurrent inflammatory symptoms
- Concerns about vitamin or mineral status
- Previous or borderline abnormal results
Morning stiffness associated with inflammatory arthritis can be particularly noticeable after waking or after longer periods of inactivity. Importantly, symptoms matter even when blood results are normal - if there is persistent joint swelling or a strong clinical suspicion of inflammatory arthritis, medical assessment should not be delayed simply because an inflammatory marker or antibody result is negative.
Basic Rheumatology Profile - £210
The Basic Rheumatology Profile provides an initial overview of inflammatory markers alongside blood count, kidney function and selected vitamins and minerals.
Full Blood Count (FBC)
A Full Blood Count, sometimes called a CBC outside the UK, measures several components of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin and platelets. It can identify abnormalities such as anaemia or changes associated with inflammation. An abnormal FBC does not diagnose rheumatoid arthritis on its own - it provides additional information interpreted alongside inflammatory markers, symptoms and other investigations.
ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
ESR is one of the traditional blood tests used to look for evidence of inflammation. An elevated ESR can occur in inflammatory conditions, but it is not specific to rheumatoid arthritis - many different conditions and physiological factors can influence it, so an ESR result should not be interpreted in isolation.
CRP - C-Reactive Protein
CRP is produced by the liver and can increase when inflammation is present. It is frequently used when investigating inflammatory symptoms and can also help monitor established inflammatory disease. Like ESR, CRP is not specific to rheumatoid arthritis - a raised CRP tells us inflammation may be occurring, not necessarily why, and a normal CRP does not automatically rule out inflammatory arthritis.
Creatinine
Creatinine is commonly measured to assess kidney function - relevant both as part of understanding your general health and when considering the safety and monitoring of certain medications.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for bone, muscle and general health. Low levels can sometimes be associated with musculoskeletal symptoms, although deficiency should not automatically be assumed to explain persistent joint pain.
Vitamin B12
Important for healthy blood cells and neurological function. Deficiency can produce symptoms that occasionally overlap with complaints that lead people to seek rheumatological investigation, including fatigue.
Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium
These minerals and electrolytes contribute to normal muscle, nerve and cellular function. They do not diagnose arthritis - their purpose is to provide a broader picture of your biochemical and musculoskeletal health.
Zinc
An essential micronutrient involved in immune function and numerous biological processes. A zinc result is not a marker for rheumatoid arthritis; it forms part of the wider nutritional assessment.
The Basic Profile may be a useful initial investigation for people experiencing persistent joint or muscle discomfort, joint stiffness, unexplained fatigue, general aches and pains, suspected inflammation, or concerns about vitamin or mineral status. Blood testing alone cannot diagnose the cause of joint or rheumatological symptoms - depending on your symptoms and results, further investigation or specialist assessment may be recommended.
Book Basic Profile - £210Extended Rheumatology Profile - £340
The Extended Rheumatology Profile incorporates every test in the Basic Profile, plus liver markers and important antibody tests used when investigating rheumatoid arthritis.
ALT, AST and GGT
These commonly measured liver enzymes provide baseline information relevant to liver and biliary health - particularly useful when medications may subsequently be considered as part of treatment.
Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
Rheumatoid Factor is an antibody that can be detected in the blood and has been used for many years as part of the investigation of suspected rheumatoid arthritis. However, a positive RF result does not automatically mean someone has rheumatoid arthritis - it can be detected in people with other conditions, and some people with rheumatoid arthritis have a negative result. RF needs clinical interpretation rather than standing alone as a screening test.
Anti-CCP Antibodies
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) antibody testing is another important investigation used when rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. Anti-CCP antibodies are more closely associated with rheumatoid arthritis than Rheumatoid Factor, and can provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information alongside the clinical picture. NICE guidance recommends Rheumatoid Factor testing in adults with suspected rheumatoid arthritis who have synovitis on clinical examination, and advises considering Anti-CCP testing when Rheumatoid Factor is negative. A positive Anti-CCP result is not, by itself, a diagnosis, and a negative result does not completely exclude rheumatoid arthritis.
Can you have rheumatoid arthritis with normal blood tests? Yes. There is no blood test that definitively proves or excludes rheumatoid arthritis. A person can potentially have inflammatory arthritis despite a normal CRP, a normal ESR, and negative Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-CCP antibodies. Persistent symptoms - particularly clinically apparent joint swelling - should not be dismissed simply because blood tests are normal.
What's included in each profile?
| Test | Basic - £210 | Extended - £340 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Blood Count (FBC) | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| CRP - C-Reactive Protein | ✓ | ✓ |
| Creatinine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vitamin D | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vitamin B12 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Magnesium | ✓ | ✓ |
| Potassium | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calcium | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zinc | ✓ | ✓ |
| ALT - Alanine Aminotransferase | - | ✓ |
| AST - Aspartate Aminotransferase | - | ✓ |
| GGT - Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase | - | ✓ |
| Rheumatoid Factor (RF) | - | ✓ |
| Anti-CCP Antibodies | - | ✓ |
Basic or Extended - which should I choose?
The Basic Rheumatology Profile may provide a useful starting point when looking at inflammation, general blood health, kidney function, vitamins and minerals.
The Extended Rheumatology Profile provides a broader assessment, adding Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-CCP, ALT, AST and GGT. It may therefore be more appropriate when rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory joint disease is specifically being considered.
If a doctor or rheumatologist has already requested particular tests, please follow their requested investigations rather than selecting a general profile. If you're unsure which profile is appropriate, speak to the MDC team before booking.
What about ANA, ENA, dsDNA, HLA-B27 and other rheumatology tests?
Rheumatology includes many conditions beyond rheumatoid arthritis. Depending on a patient's symptoms and examination, a doctor may consider additional investigations such as ANA, ENA, dsDNA, Complement C3/C4, HLA-B27, CK or Uric Acid.
These tests should not simply be added to every rheumatology screen. For example, ANA testing may be useful when there is genuine clinical suspicion of a systemic autoimmune/connective-tissue disease, but positive ANA results can also occur in healthy people. The correct investigation should be driven by the clinical question, rather than ordering every available autoimmune blood test. MDC can arrange additional testing where appropriate or where specifically requested by a clinician.
Preparing for your appointment
- Fasting is not normally required for either profile.
- Continue prescribed medication unless a healthcare professional has told you to stop.
- Stay well hydrated before your blood draw.
- If you already have a clinician's request for specific tests, bring the details along.
Your patient journey
Do you need a rheumatologist, or just a blood test?
Sometimes blood testing is an appropriate starting point. At other times, seeing a rheumatologist is more important than simply ordering more tests. Consider medical assessment particularly if you have persistent joint swelling, morning stiffness, multiple painful joints, reduced joint function, or symptoms affecting the small joints of the hands or feet. NICE emphasises rapid specialist referral for adults with suspected persistent synovitis affecting more than one joint. Referral should not be delayed simply while waiting for blood test results when inflammatory arthritis is strongly suspected.
Patients having blood tests at MDC do not have to see one of our associated rheumatologists - you may take your results to your own GP or specialist. If you do need a private rheumatologist in London, MDC works with experienced Consultant Rheumatologists in the Marylebone and Harley Street area, and can help coordinate an appointment. These consultations are separate from MDC blood testing, separately charged, and must be booked in advance.
Private Rheumatology Blood Tests on Baker Street
Marylebone Diagnostic Centre is located at 73 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RD - convenient for patients across Central London. Call us on 020 7724 0540 to book or ask a question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book Your Rheumatology Blood Test
Choose the profile that's right for you. Both are available from our clinic at 73 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RD.
