• Dr. V.S Rathod
• Dr. Rohit Sinha
• Dr. S.R. More
• Dr. Khan Saleha

Abstract: INTRODUCTION:- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown etiology involving multiple peripheral joints.1,2 It affects millions of people worldwide, with a prevalence between 0.5% to 1%.3,4 The disease is more common in females as compared to males and generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 years.1,5MATERIALS AND METHODS:- This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Dr. S.C.G.M.C, Nanded between January 2016 to December 2019. The blood samples were collected from clinically diagnosed patients of Arthritis attending outpatient and in-patients department. Serum was separated from blood and was subjected to RF test. Rheumatoid factor-IgM test was carried out by latex agglutination rapid test kit by Pathozyme Diagnostics according to manufacturer’s instructions. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS:-Out of 456 patients with clinically diagnosed arthritis 302 were females and 154 were males. Most of the patients were between the age group of 20 to 50 years. The prevalence of rheumatoid factor was 48(10.52%). Out of 48 RF positive cases 9 were males and 39 were females. Most of the RF positive patients were in the age group of 21-60.

Keywords: Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Latex agglutination, Arthritis

"Seroprevalence of Rheumatoid Factor in Arthritis Cases at a Tertiary Care Centre.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 2, page no.1151-1153, February-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2102136.pdf

"Seroprevalence of Rheumatoid Factor in Arthritis Cases at a Tertiary Care Centre.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 2, page no. pp1151-1153, February-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2102136.pdf