Blood testing

[fruitsalad]

Can blood test tell if you have osteoarthritis?

[Sqad]

No.

[Zeuhl]

Can a blood test tell if you have cancer of any form?

[fruitsalad]

Which type of arthritis shows up in a blood test?

[Sqad]

Varying types of rheumatoid arthritis MAY show antibodies leading one to a diagnosis.

[LazyGun]

There are a variety of blood tests that will aid in the differential diagnosis of the particular type of arthritis, but no tests that will specifically identify the type.

The ESR ( Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) is a test performed to determine whether there is inflammation present, as will C-Reactive Protein. They may also test for Rheumatoid Factor and Anti Nuclear Antibodies, becuase there are a whole suite of disease states centred around bodies immune reponse.


@ Zeuhl re blood tests for cancer. Again, no specific tests that are exclusively diagnostic for specific types of cancer, but there are markers that are indicative, and, when combined with diagnostic imaging methods are very useful to determine the type of cancer.

If you class leukaemias as cancers, then a blood test can be exclusively diagnostic, with the data drawn from the cell counts and examination of the cell morphology.

In short, it can be quite complicated :)

[DTCwordfan]

Zeuhl, extensively I believe.

In my American annual, they used to screen for some 23 cancers, I think the number was.

[Old_Geezer]

I reckon there may be a fair chance of spotting leukaemia, Zeuhl. Not that I know, of course.

[DTCwordfan]

at least the early warning antigen signs...

[Zeuhl]

Thanks to lazy and dt

apologies to fruitsalad for piggy-backing!

[fruitsalad]

My finger and thumb joints are very swollen and lumpy and as I have been suffering with back pain and knee pain and have limited movement bending and lifting my legs I have to have a blood test to see if it's osteoarthritis or to see what it else it could be

[fruitsalad]

Apology accepted Zeuhl thanks guys for replies

[LazyGun]

@Fruit - It will likely be a range of blood tests, Fruit, ranging from FBC to ESR and possibly some of the others, like ANA for example, to aid the clinician in the differential diagnosis of your particular malady and therefore, one hopes, the most efficacious treatment plan.

[Eve]

I had blood tests when I was getting symptoms of swollen red painful joints and other pain. They included inflammation tests (ESR was raised showing inflammation - CRP never seems to be raised when done though oddly - well to me anyway, would have assumed both would be raised) and screening for rhumatoid factor for rhumatoid arthritis. Never had the RF when tested (yet anyway). Usually other stuff like FBC too in case anything else was picked up.

I was referred to a rhumatologist and they did similar blood tests and xrays to show any joint damage by osteoarthritis or damage from inflammatory - they did some of the joints that hurt - hands and feet from memory and lower spine which showed something up so was sent for an MRI on it but all joints ok on xray :)

A lot of it also based on symtoms and examination too.

[thomaspayne]

I think which tests a doctor may order to diagnose your osteoarthritis.