New test for Rheumatoid arthritis not available in UAE

The only tests available for Rheumatoid arthritis in UAE are rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP>
The 14-3-3eta lab-developed test is based on the 14-3-3eta protein biomarker through an exclusive license agreement in the United States with Augurex Life Sciences. One test provides results of 14-3-3eta blood levels, while a comprehensive panel provides results of blood levels of the novel marker as well as the conventional RA markers CCP antibodies and RF.

Physicians may consider results of RF, CCP antibody and 14-3-3eta tests, along with a medical evaluation and X-rays, to diagnose RA.

Quest Diagnostics already provides the RF and CCP antibody tests, and a panel that incorporates these assays as well as 14-3-3eta has certain advantages, including potentially higher sensitivity for detecting RA, than any of the three markers can provide alone. A panel also allows a physician to test a patient only once and receive a single report.

This “one blood draw, one report” approach is significantly more convenient for the patient and clinician in those cases where a physician may believe consideration of results of all three tests would aid diagnosis.

On the other hand, a physician may not believe results of all three tests are required for a reliable diagnosis or perhaps a patient received certain tests already, perhaps under care of a different doctor, and additional testing would be redundant and unnecessary. In these cases, single tests may be more appropriate.

How do these novel tests allow for early diagnosis of RA?
Research shows that elevated blood levels of the 14-3-3eta biomarker outperform conventional RF or CCP antibody testing for RA. When physicians consider results of all three markers, the sensitivity improves even further.

In addition, co-morbid conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis and gout, do not abnormally raise blood levels of 14-3-3eta.