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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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RHEUMATOID FACTOR

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3007    Geisinger Epic ID:  7385

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum or plasma


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

2 mL aliquot serum or plasma; minimum 0.2 mL


Patient preparation: 

Fasting specimen preferred.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma within 2 hours of collection.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred). Room temperature or frozen specimen also acceptable.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 24 hours. Refrigerated: 8 days. Frozen: 3 months.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

< 14 IU/mL


CPT code(s):  86431
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Rheumatoid factor.


Methodology: 
Immunoturbidity
Synonyms: 

RF


Clinical significance: 

Elevated RF is found in collagen vascular disease such as SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, and in other conditions such as leprosy, tuberculosis, syphilis, malignancy, thyroid disease, and in a signfiicant percentage of otherwise normal elderly patients.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/27/2024

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