Results

A positive rheumatoid factor test result indicates that a high level of rheumatoid factor was detected in your blood. A higher level of rheumatoid factor in your blood is closely associated with autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. But a number of other diseases and conditions can raise rheumatoid factor levels, including:

• Cancer
• Chronic infections
• Inflammatory lung diseases, such as sarcoidosis
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Some healthy people — particularly older individuals — have positive rheumatoid factor tests, though it's not clear why. And some people who have rheumatoid arthritis will have low levels of rheumatoid factor in their blood.