Page Banner
Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis

Anti-CCP

The daily pain, stiffness and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis can go undiagnosed for months causing permanent damage to your body. Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis at its earliest stages can prevent damage and improve long-term quality of life.

How is the test performed?

Blood sample

FAQs

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system – which normally functions to protect you against infections – mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints.

RA causes redness, pain, swelling or a hot (or warm) feeling in the lining of a joint and can also affect other internal organs such as the eyes, lungs or heart. Each year, about 1% of Canadians are affective by RA. If left untreated RA can create debilitating and permanent joint damage.

While the causes of RA are not completely clear, we know that people with RA frequently have the presence of antibodies directed against the body’s cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP).

What is the Anti- CCP Test?

The Anti-CCP test is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies directed against the body’s cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP). These antibodies are frequently detected in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Anti-CCP test is a highly accurate test and can diagnose the rheumatoid arthritis at a very early stage, sometimes years before the development of symptoms.

Additional information can be found in our Anti-CCP test brochure  here.

Who should get tested?

Anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis, but the risk increases with age and most commonly develops between 40 and 60 years of age. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about being tested for RA.

Symptoms may included:
  • Pain or stiffness of multiple joints
  • “Gelling” or stiffness of joints, especially in the morning, that lasts an hour or more
  • Warmth or redness over joints
  • Reduced ability to move the joints (such as difficulty making a fist, twisting objects, opening objects, climbing stairs)
  • Fever, fatigue, weight loss or decreased appetite
  • Lumpy growths that form under your skin especially on the elbows, hands or feet

You should also consider the Anti-CCP test if you have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis. Women are also 2 to 3 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men.

When is this test ordered?

Your healthcare provider may order an Anti-CCP test if you are experiencing typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and you:

  • have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis
  • are experiencing hormonal changes
  • are between the ages of 40 and 69
  • have recently had an infection
  • have already been diagnosed with RA and your rheumatologist wants to monitor the RA protein levels.
How can I get tested?

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

Understanding your results

Test results will be provided directly to your healthcare provider for discussion with you. The report will indicate:

  • Whether there are Anti-CCP antibodies
  • The amount of Anti-CCP antibodies present

If your test results show the presence Anti-CCP antibodies, your healthcare provider may suggest a referral to a rheumatologist for discussion and developing a care plan.

A negative test result does not mean you will always be negative. If symptoms persist, you may want to consider testing in another six months.

Sources

FAQs

Overview

​The Anti-CCP test is a blood-based immunological test that detects the presence of antibodies directed against the body’s cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP). These antibodies are frequently detected in the blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients. The Anti-CCP test can diagnose the disease at a very early stage, sometimes years before the development of clinical symptoms.

An Anti-CCP test may be ordered to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess the severity and probable course of the disease. Anti-CCP may also be ordered to help evaluate patients at high risk of developing RA, or as a follow-up test to a negative RF test when clinical signs and symptoms of RA are present.

When people with signs and symptoms of arthritis are positive for both CCP antibody and RF, it is very likely that they have RA and that they may develop a more severe form of the disease. When people are positive for CCP antibody but not RF, or have low levels of both, and have clinical signs that suggest RA, then it is likely that they have early RA or that they will develop RA in the future.

Individuals who are negative for CCP antibodies but have a positive RF, then the clinical signs and symptoms are more vital in determining whether they have RA or some other inflammatory condition. When someone is negative for both CCP antibody and RF, then it is less likely that they have RA. It must be emphasized, however, that RA is a clinical diagnosis and may be made in the absence of positive tests for autoantibodies.

Additional information can be found in our Anti-CCP test brochure here.

How to Order

Samples for Anti-CCP testing may be taken at any of our Patient Service Centres.

Please use a standard requisition form and indicate ‘Anti-CCP’ in the ‘Other Tests’ section. Patients must present the completed form at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre.

Cost

Anti-CCP is currently an uninsured test. The cost is: $58

Payment may be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centers.

For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit Cards are excepted.

Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.

Receiving results

Results will be available to you within two weeks.

Request more information

We have a wealth of medical experts available to support you in interpreting test results.
Consults with our experts are available upon request. Request medical consultation.

    Request more information

    Schedule a test

    An Anti-CCP test may be scheduled directly by the patient at any of our Patient Service Centres offering this service. They must have a requisition form completed by a physician or healthcare provider.

    Find a Location   Schedule an Appointment

    Sources

    People who looked at the Anti-CCP were also interested in:

    Featured
    Services
    Assessing risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD)

    Klinrisk

    Klinrisk is an AI algorithm based on results from routine blood and urine tests. It generates a score for patients with CKD, to predict the progression of disease before kidney function is lost. The model is built on a foundation of lab data from large nationa...
    Learn More
    Testosterone Test

    Bioavailable Testosterone Testing

    Measures total available testosterone to be used by the body.
    Learn More
    Assess your risk of developing liver fibrosis

    Liver Fibrosis Testing

    Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Index and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF™) Score are used to screen for liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Screening is essential for treating patients with fatty liver disease and associated risks, like ob...
    Learn More
    Sexually Transmitted Infection of the Genital and Urinary Tract

    Mycoplasma Genitalium Testing

    Canadian studies estimate the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium infection at 3-8%. 
    Learn More
    Your trusted healthcare partner for supporting Immigration Medical Exams.

    Immigration Diagnostic Test Panel

    LifeLabs® is the largest medical diagnostic laboratory in Canada, that works with government-regulated immigration panel physicians to offer immigration medical exams in an efficient, timely, and customer-focused manner. The Immigration Medical Exa...
    Learn More

    Testing Options for Long
    COVID Assessment

    The use of various diagnostic tests for Long COVID should be considered for patients with ongoing symptoms associated with Long COVID to assess for conditions that may respond to treatment, once basic testing such as complete blood count, basic metabolic profi...
    Learn More
    COVID-19 Antibody Testing

    COVID-19 Antibody Blood Test Panel

    IMPORTANT: This test is no longer available for purchase.  For customers that already have a requisition, samples will continue to be collected at our Patient Service Centers until Sept 30, 2023.

    Learn More
    Diagnosing Allergies

    Serum Allergy Testing

    The serum allergy test is one type of allergy test that can be used to assist in the diagnosis and management of allergies. Through a simple blood test, analyzed in a laboratory, your doctor can uncover the amount of allergen-specific antibodies, called Immuno...
    Learn More
    Diagnosing H. pylori Infection

    H. pylori Infection.

    The Urea Breath Test (UBT) and the H. pylori Stool Antigen test are common tests used to accurately diagnose whether you have an H. pylori infection. Detecting H. pylori is essential in identifying the cause of your symptoms and/or ulcers in the absence of mor...
    Learn More
    COVID-19 Antibody Testing

    COVID-19 Antibody Blood Test

    Find out if you’ve had COVID-19 through an Antibody test.
    This blood test detects prior infection, even if you never experienced symptoms.
    Learn More
    Reaching a definitive diagnosis of hypertension

    24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

    Learn More
    Take the guesswork out of your diet

    IgG Food Sensitivity Testing

    Symptoms associated with food sensitivities develop slowly over time and can create inflammation and contribute to symptoms of a variety of diseases. The RMA FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test can help identify potential food sensitivities and t...
    Learn More
    Colorectal Cancer Screening

    Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)

    FIT is a safe and painless at-home cancer screening test. FIT checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer and some pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time). W...
    Learn More
    Colorectal Cancer Screening

    Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)

    FIT is a safe and painless stool-based test used for screening people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. FIT checks for the presence of occult blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colorectal cancer and/or pre-cancerous lesions. When ...
    Learn More
    (Omega-3)

    Omega-3 Fatty Acid

    The Omega-3 Fatty Acid test quantifies the fatty acids present in a sample of a patient’s whole blood. Specific levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the blood hav...
    Learn More
    Helping Naturopathic Doctors Gain a Better View of the Health Status of their Patients

    Patient Assessment Panels

    Patient Assessment Panels enable you to provide your Naturopathic Doctor with a complete picture of your health. Now you can access the blood work required to make informed decisions on how to be your healthiest you!
    1. Convenient
    2. Comprehensive <...
    Learn More
    Fecal Calprotectin Testing

    Differentiating Between
    IBS and IBD

    Canada has one of the highest incidence and prevalence rates of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the world. With symptoms of these two conditions appearing similar, Fecal Calprotectin testing can provide an accurate diagnosis in many ...
    Learn More
    QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus)

    QUANTIFERON-TB GOLD Plus (FOR TB SCREENING)

    QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is a simple blood test that aids in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes tuberculosis (TB). Like its predecessor, QFT-Plus is an interferon gamma release assay, commonly known as an IGRA, ...
    Learn More
    Know Your Risk for Heart Attacks

    SmartVascular Dx™

    The second leading cause of death among Canadians, heart attacks are often a silent killer with no signs or symptoms before they strike. Often resulting from coronary heart disease, heart attacks can be predicted and even prevented if you know and manage your ...
    Learn More
    Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

    Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

    One in seven men in Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The third leading cause of cancer death, when prostate cancer is detected early, the more likely it can be successfully treated.
    Learn More
    Determine your risk of bone fractures

    Osteoporosis

    Known as the “silent thief”, osteoporosis is responsible for the loss of bone mass without obvious symptoms until a bone is broken. By knowing your risk through a Serum CTX Test, you can prevent, delay or reduce bone loss.
    Learn More
    Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

    HPV Testing

    About 75% of sexually active women will get a least one HPV infection in their lifetime. With HPV the primary cause of cervical cancer, the HPV test detects the presence of high-risk HPV strain(s).
    Learn More
    Diagnosing Celiac Disease

    Celiac Disease

    Celiac disease can arise at any age creating damage to your intestines and starving your body of critical nutrients. With a range of symptoms commonly associated with other conditions, knowing if you are celiac, or simply have a gluten allergy or intolerance, ...
    Learn More
    Fertility Test

    Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)

    With one in six couples across Canada experiencing difficulty in becoming pregnant, AMH levels can provide valuable insight into predicting a response for IVF treatment.
    Learn More
    Vitamin Levels

    25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test

    Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus and is essential
    for proper growth and healthy teeth and bones throughout your life.