The lab tests help categorize the type of arthritis. In addition, lab tests can help us follow your child in terms of important measures inflammation and side effects from medications. The sed rate is not diagnostic of any particular disease. The sed rate reflects inflammation in the system or tissue injury. The sed rate will vary from patient to patient.
Some patients have normal sed rates but still have arthritis.
Other patients may have very high sed rates, but do not appear to be seriously ill. The sed rate has to be used in the context of each individual patient. The ANA is a screening test for a protein which is made by the white blood cells. The ANA test is the most common test to be positive in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In children, however, it is far more common for patients with a positive ANA to have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, particularly since lupus is relatively uncommon in young children.