Are home test kits a good idea?

nofanofra

Have been suffering with pain in knees, hips, shoulders and neck for over 4 months now, and they still don't know what it is, and it's getting worse. Was convinced it was RA with early morning effect, but GP did RF with neg results, although CRP is astronomic and ESR is high. As someone with pharma experience, I knew RF wasn't that specific, and CCP is more accurate, but GP wouldn't request CCP. Digging around I found that you can get a home CCP test from UK website without GP request. The test would eliminate once and for all if it was neg and put mind at rest. Before trying just wondered if anybody any experience with home tests or have any views.

scattered

You can have RA without having either RF or CCP, so even testing yourself you might not get the answers. What you really need is a referral to a rheumatologist. If your ESR and CRP are up then there is something inflammatory going on that needs to be investigated further.

Good luck.

dreamdaisy

I'm with scattered on this one, you should be referred to a rheumatologist and have the complete battery of tests done at their request. Your GP sounds a twerp: he should remember that he is a GENERAL practitioner, not a specialist. I had ESR and CRP figures in the 160-180 range for quite some time, but never a positive RF: I was eventually diagnosed with PA (a sero-negative version of this dross.) Sit on/nag your GP until he does his job properly. I wish you well. DD