Rheumatoid Arthritis is a crippling kind of arthritis that causes swelling of the joints, especially in the joints of the hands. This panel helps to determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis.

It includes:

1. Rheumatoid Factor (RF):
   Rheumatoid factor is an antibody directed against the patient’s own tissues. At times, the body starts attacking its own tissue due to immune dysfunction. The majority of patients with rheumatoid arthritis will have a positive rheumatoid factor. RF can also be detected in other autoimmune disorders and not only in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

2. C-Reactive Protein (CRP):
   The level of this protein in the body rises due to inflammation. Elevated levels indicate the severity of inflammatory conditions in the body, like arthritis and other illnesses.

3. Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody (ACPA) Test:
   This test is more specific in determining the presence of arthritis. Presence of these autoantibodies in blood is commonly observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

4. Antinuclear Antibody (ANA):
   A positive ANA test indicates that your immune system has launched a misdirected attack on your own tissue. Elevated levels can be seen in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.