What Is an RA Latex Turbid Test?
An RA latex turbid test determines whether or not a patient is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints. Physicians typically run this test on individuals who are already presenting with symptoms of RA.
According to Quest Diagnostics, a leader in the field of medical diagnosis, rheumatoid factor is the marker most often used to confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. An RA latex turbid test, or latex agglutination/immunoturbidimetry, detects the presence of a variety of rheumatoid factors in a patient, including IgM RF, IgA RF and IgG RF. An RA latex turbid that indicates levels of an RF that reach anywhere from 60 to 90 percent can indicate the presence of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor may also be present in cases of polyarthritis.
In cases of confirmed rheumatoid arthritis, the results of an RA latex turbid can give a physician an idea of how far the disease has progressed and help the physician develop a prognosis and therapeutic approach. Treatment for RA includes but is not limited to medications, injections, surgery on the joints and exercise. Patients also often learn techniques for preventing future damage to joints already impacted by rheumatoid arthritis, according to Web MD.
