Screening tests in arthritis will help you to arrive at a diagnosis.
Screening tests for acute polyarthritis are the following
Blood cultures.
Antistreptolysin O titer.
Parvovirus B-19 immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M levels.
Hepatitis B serology.
ANA.
Others
HIV test, a rubella titer, an angiotensin-converting enzyme level . chest radiograph, and ANCA.
HIV test, a rubella titer, an angiotensin-converting enzyme level . chest radiograph, and ANCA.
Screening tests for chronic polyarthritis are the following
Complete blood cell count.
ESR and CRP level.
ANAs.
Rheumatoid factor and CCP antibody.
Liver function tests, serum creatinine level.
Serum uric acid level.
Urinalysis.
OthersThyroid-stimulating hormone level, a serum ferritin level, and an iron saturation of serum transferrin.
Screening tests for diffuse arthralgias and myalgias
ESR and CRP - elevated in inflammatory disease, including polymyalgia rheumatica.
Creatine kinase and aldolase level - myositis.
Thyroid test.
Chemistry profile (ie, calcium, phosphorus, electrolyte, glucose, total protein) - metabolic or endocrine disorders.
Others.
25-hydroxy vitamin D level -Osteomalacia.
Sacroiliac joint radiography - Ankylosing spondylitis, especially in woman <45 y with neck, chest wall, and low back pain).
HLA-B27 - In reactive arthritis.
Hepatitis B and C serology testing.
Serum and urine protein electrophoresis -to rule out multiple myeloma.
ANA and rheumatoid factor (if clinical features suggest RA, SLE, or another connective-tissue disease).
