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+--- Thread: Ankylosing spondylitis blood test (/Thread-Ankylosing-spondylitis-blood-test)
Ankylosing spondylitis blood test - KeithD - 05-02-2023
There is no specific blood test for diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), however, certain blood tests can be helpful in supporting the diagnosis or monitoring the disease activity. Some common blood tests used in the evaluation of AS include:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) test: Elevated levels of these markers can indicate inflammation in the body, which is common in AS.
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) test: This test is used to detect autoantibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis, however, a negative test does not rule out AS.
- HLA-B27 testing: Approximately 85% of people with AS carry the HLA-B27 gene, but having the gene does not guarantee a diagnosis. HLA-B27 testing can be used to support the diagnosis of AS, especially in combination with clinical findings and imaging studies.
It's important to note that a blood test alone is not sufficient for diagnosing AS, and a combination of clinical examination, imaging studies, and laboratory tests is typically required for a definitive diagnosis.