CCP Antibody Test
Reviewed
This test looks for CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibodies in your blood. CCP antibodies are autoantibodies that attack healthy joint tissues. Their presence can help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
Preparation and collection
Tell your provider about all medicines, vitamins, and dietary supplements you are taking. You may need to stop taking certain substances for 8 hours before your test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- CCP antibodies are found in most people with rheumatoid arthritis but are almost never found in people without the disease.
- Sometimes CCP antibodies may be found in other conditions such as other autoimmune disorders (e.g., Sjogren's syndrome or lupus), active tuberculosis, or chronic lung disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, especially in its early stages.
- Results must be interpreted by your provider along with your symptoms, medical history, physical exam, and other test results.
What to do next
Your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, physical exam, and the results of other tests to understand the results of a CCP antibody test. Additional tests may include x-rays of your joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), synovial fluid analysis, C-reactive protein, or antinuclear antibody tests.