Other names: RF, rheumatoid arthritis, RA, RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Factor, Serum
Optimal Result:
0 - 14 IU/ml.
The Rheumatoid Factor (RF) test is a blood test used to help detect autoimmune conditions—most commonly rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It measures the level of rheumatoid factor, an antibody produced by your immune system that can mistakenly attack your body’s own tissues.
Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody—a protein made by your immune system that targets your own cells instead of harmful invaders like bacteria or viruses. High levels of RF are commonly found in people with autoimmune conditions, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome.
However, testing positive for RF does not automatically mean you have RA. RF can also be present in:
Other autoimmune diseases
Chronic infections
A small number of healthy individuals, especially older adults
Your doctor may order an RF test if you show symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune condition. Common RA symptoms include:
→ Joint pain and stiffness (especially in the morning)
→ Swelling or warmth in multiple joints
→ Fatigue
→ Low-grade fever
→ Weight loss
Because up to 80% of people with RA test positive for RF, this test can be an important early clue. However, it is usually not used alone to make a diagnosis.
Supports diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and helps distinguish it from other forms of arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis)
Helps evaluate unexplained inflammation or autoimmune symptoms
May be used alongside other tests to monitor disease progression or response to treatment
Diagnosing RA is complex and often requires a combination of lab results, physical exam findings, and symptom history. Other key tests that may be ordered include:
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies
→ More specific to RA than RF
→ Rarely positive in other conditions
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
→ Measures inflammation in the body
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
→ Another general marker of inflammation
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
→ Can show anemia or abnormal white blood cell counts related to autoimmune activity
Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test
→ Screens for other autoimmune conditions like lupus
A negative RF test means your blood does not contain significant levels of rheumatoid factor. However, this does not rule out rheumatoid arthritis. Some people with RA are seronegative, meaning they don’t have detectable RF or anti-CCP antibodies, especially early in the disease.
If your RF test is negative but you still have symptoms of RA, your healthcare provider may order additional tests or refer you to a rheumatologist for further evaluation.
RF is an autoantibody that is often—but not always—elevated in rheumatoid arthritis.
The RF test is one piece of the diagnostic puzzle and should be interpreted alongside other lab tests, symptoms, and physical exam findings.
A positive RF result can suggest autoimmune activity, but it is not exclusive to RA and is sometimes seen in healthy people.
A negative RF test does not rule out RA or other autoimmune conditions.
An elevated Rheumatoid Factor (RF) test result means your blood contains higher-than-normal levels of rheumatoid factor, an antibody produced by your immune system. While high RF levels are most commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), they can also be found in other autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, certain cancers, and even in some healthy individuals—especially older adults.
(References: Mayo Clinic, NIAMS)
Normal RF values can vary by laboratory, but are typically less than 15 IU/mL or a titer below 1:80. Values above this range are considered elevated, but interpretation always depends on your clinical context and other test results.
(Reference: Lab Tests Online)
A high RF level can indicate the presence of an autoimmune or inflammatory condition. While RA is the most common association, other possible causes include:
Sjögren’s syndrome
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Mixed connective tissue disease
Sarcoidosis (inflammatory lung disease)
Chronic infections (e.g., hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, endocarditis)
Certain cancers (such as leukemia and multiple myeloma)
Other autoimmune diseases (e.g., scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, cryoglobulinemia)
Liver diseases (e.g., cirrhosis)
Kidney disorders
Parasitic infections
Lung diseases
It’s important to note that about 4% of healthy people, particularly those over age 60, may have an elevated RF without any underlying illness.
(References: NIAMS, Mayo Clinic)
Certain factors are linked to both increased RF and higher risk of developing RA:
Age: RF positivity is more common in adults over 60.
Gender: Women are 2–3 times more likely to develop RA than men.
Smoking: Strongly associated with both RF positivity and RA risk.
Obesity
Reproductive history: Women who have never given birth may be at higher risk.
Parental smoking: Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are at greater risk.
(Reference: Arthritis Foundation)
If you have an elevated RF, your healthcare provider may look for symptoms such as:
Persistent joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
Warmth or tenderness in joints
Morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 minutes
Fatigue
Low-grade fever
Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
No. A positive RF test by itself is not enough to confirm a diagnosis of RA or any other condition. Many people with RA test negative for RF (especially in early stages), and some people with positive RF never develop RA.
(Reference: NIAMS)
To make an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider will consider:
Your symptoms and medical history
Other lab tests, which may include:
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies – more specific for RA
C-reactive protein (CRP) – measures inflammation
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – detects systemic inflammation
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) – screens for other autoimmune diseases
Complete blood count (CBC) – checks for anemia or abnormal blood cells
Joint fluid (synovial fluid) analysis – especially if swelling is present
Higher RF levels are often associated with more severe or aggressive forms of RA (sometimes called seropositive RA), which may involve:
More joint damage
Rheumatoid nodules
Inflammation in organs outside the joints (e.g., lungs, eyes, blood vessels)
However, this is not always the case—some people with high RF have mild disease, and some with low or negative RF can have severe RA.
(Reference: Arthritis Foundation)
| RF Result | Anti-CCP Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Positive | Strongly suggestive of seropositive RA; higher risk of joint damage |
| Negative | Positive | May indicate early or seronegative RA; anti-CCP often appears before RF |
| Negative | Negative | Does not rule out RA; diagnosis may rely on symptoms, imaging, and inflammation markers |
Sjögren’s Syndrome: If you have dry eyes/mouth, fatigue, and joint pain, and test positive for RF but negative for SSA (Ro) and SSB (La) antibodies, your doctor may still suspect Sjögren’s syndrome.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA): RF is often negative in children with JRA; diagnosis is based more on symptoms and subtype criteria.
If your RF or anti-CCP test is positive but you have no symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
Periodic retesting over time
Monitoring for early signs of autoimmune disease
Referral to a rheumatologist for further evaluation
An elevated RF test suggests, but does not confirm, an autoimmune disease.
RF is just one part of a complex diagnostic process that includes symptoms, imaging, and other labs.
Many healthy people (especially older adults) can have elevated RF without illness.
High RF plus symptoms increases the likelihood of RA or another autoimmune disease.
References:
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Import Lab Results from Any Source
Easily upload lab results from any provider, whether it's a hospital, independent lab, or home testing service. We support PDFs, scanned documents, and JPEGs from patient portals. No need to log in to multiple platforms — everything is centralized in one secure space.
Easily upload lab results from any provider — we support PDFs, scans, and images. Keep all your reports organized in one secure place.
See Your Health Timeline
Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey. Whether you're tracking a condition, managing treatments, or staying proactive, the timeline helps you and your doctor understand how things progress over time.
Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey.
Understand What Your Results Mean
Whether it's a blood test, GI panel, urinalysis, or something else, lab reports measure numerous biomarkers that reveal what's happening inside your body. Our extensive database covers over 10,000 biomarkers, providing clear, simple explanations of what each result means and how you can take action—no matter your membership level. Say goodbye to confusion and get the insights you need to better understand your health.
Our database covers over 10,000 biomarkers with clear, simple explanations—so you can finally understand your results and what to do next.
Enter Your Lab Reports Yourself — Always Free
Enter Your Lab Reports — Always Free
If you'd like to handle inputting your health data into your account, you can do so with our easy-to-use data entry forms. Our user-friendly form is designed to guide you through the quick and easy submission process, making it simple to keep track of your health metrics. This is available to both Complete plan and Unlimited plan members.
Our user-friendly form guides you through a quick, simple submission process, making it easy to enter your health metrics.
Add your results anytime with our easy entry form. It's quick, guided, and helps you stay organized — free for all members.
Visualize Your Results
View your lab data through easy-to-read graphs and tables. Quickly spot patterns, track changes, and compare results across different dates — all without digging through multiple reports. You can also select and compare graphs of specific biomarkers side-by-side to better understand how they relate and change over time.
See your lab reports in clear graphs and tables. Spot patterns, track changes, and compare results over time — all in one place.
Export Your Complete Lab History in a Single File
Export Your Complete Lab History
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file. Choose from PDF, Excel, or CSV formats to easily review, share, or get a second opinion—no more juggling multiple reports.
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
Comprehensive Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
Share your full lab history with your doctor, nutritionist, or coach using a secure invite link.
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I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
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As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
The Complete Plan ($15/month) is perfect for individuals who want ongoing access to their health data. It includes unlimited lab imports, visual tracking, custom ranges, result explanations, full account exports, and secure sharing — all with a simple monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime and restart your plan whenever you're ready — your data will still be there waiting for you. You can also upgrade to the Unlimited Plan at any time, with the cost prorated based on what you've already paid.
The Unlimited Plan ($250 one-time) is also designed for individuals but offers lifetime access with no ongoing subscription. You'll get all the same features as the Complete Plan, plus a larger initial data entry allowance (10 reports), making it a great choice if you prefer a one-time payment and long-term use without monthly fees.
In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
The $15 per report covers the time and care it takes for a real person to review your file, make sure each result is entered correctly, and double-check for accuracy. This ensures your health data is precise and easy to work with — without you having to spend the time doing it yourself.
Prefer to do it yourself? You can always use our free self-entry tool to add results manually — it just takes a bit more time and attention.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
The Pro Monthly Plus plan is priced at $75 per month and includes a data entry service for five reports each month. Additional reports can be self-entered at no extra cost or, if preferred, you can use our data entry service for an additional fee of $15 per report.
The Pro Monthly plan is priced at $45 per month and does not include a data entry service. Self-entry is free for an unlimited number of reports, and you can opt for the data entry service at a fee of $15 per report.
You also have the option to upgrade to higher monthly or to annual plans, which come with substantial discounts. All upgrades can be done directly from your account.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download your information anytime. We offer two easy ways to export your lab data:
This makes it simple to save, back up, or share your health data whenever you need.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
