In brief
Blood tests for antibodies linked with rheumatoid arthritis, anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF).
What it measures
Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor, both autoantibodies.
Why it is done
To help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, especially early. RF is also used for Sjögren's syndrome.
Reading the results
- CCP is more specific for rheumatoid arthritis than RF and can be positive when RF is negative. It is found in about 50 to 60% of people with early RA.
- Being positive for both CCP and RF makes rheumatoid arthritis very likely.
- RF can be found in healthy people and in other conditions, and many people with RA have little or no RF.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a clinical diagnosis and can be made without positive antibodies. CCP is not recommended as a screening test.
Before the test
None.
What can affect the result
- Other conditions such as infections
Related topics
Sources
Test information summarised from the sources listed on this page, read on 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.