Limited time offer! 10% off your first blood test order!
Unexplained fatigue, joint pain, and thyroid symptoms can all have an autoimmune basis. Five targeted markers give a meaningful starting point.
or 4 interest-free payments of £32.25 with Klarna
A five-marker autoimmune screening panel covering ANA, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, anti-TPO, and CRP.
Autoimmune conditions are among the most frequently missed and most delayed-diagnosed medical conditions. Joint pain, fatigue, dry eyes, mouth ulcers, hair loss, and diffuse musculoskeletal symptoms are the common presenting complaints of a spectrum of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disease. This panel investigates the five most clinically relevant autoimmune screening markers: ANA (antinuclear antibodies — the most sensitive screen for connective tissue diseases), rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP (the most specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (the marker of autoimmune thyroid disease underlying Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease), and hs-CRP (to quantify the systemic inflammatory burden). Results require specialist contextualisation and are reviewed by a GMC-registered physician who provides clear guidance on next steps.
Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.
This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.
People with unexplained joint pain, stiffness, or swelling not explained by injury
Individuals with fatigue, hair loss, dry eyes, or mouth ulcers who want autoimmune markers checked
Women aged 20 to 50 with non-specific symptoms (autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect this demographic)
People with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or autoimmune thyroid disease
Individuals with a known positive ANA wanting a more detailed follow-up screen
ANA is highly sensitive for connective tissue diseases but has limited specificity; low-titre ANA (below 1:80) is found in up to 20 to 30 percent of healthy individuals and is not necessarily pathological. ANA positivity must be interpreted alongside titre, pattern, and clinical symptoms before significance is attributed. Anti-CCP and RF negativity does not exclude seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of RA cases. Anti-TPO elevation indicates thyroid autoimmunity but does not confirm clinical thyroid disease; a TSH and free T4 result is required alongside to assess thyroid functional status — these are not included in this panel. Specialist rheumatological or endocrinological assessment is required for any positive autoimmune result; do not self-manage based on these results alone. Results in 5 to 7 working days due to specialist autoimmune laboratory processing.
From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.
Venous draw required for autoimmune serology.
Fasting is not required for autoimmune markers.
Autoimmune serology requires 3 to 5 working days laboratory processing.
GMC physician commentary with specialist referral guidance in 5 to 7 working days.
Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.
Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.
Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.
Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.
Adults 18+ within 20 miles of a serviced city centre.
Mon–Sun, 06:00–20:00. Next-day booking typical.
Sample reaches the lab within 24 hours of collection.
Adults 16+ with photo ID. Paediatric draws by appointment at selected sites.
Mon–Fri, with Saturday hours at most metropolitan locations.
Samples processed same-day at the receiving clinic.
Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.
Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.
Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Contact supportANA (antinuclear antibody) testing detects antibodies directed against proteins in the cell nucleus. A positive ANA is reported with a titre (the dilution at which the antibody is still detectable) and a pattern (homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar, etc.). A low-titre positive ANA (1:40 or 1:80) is found in 15 to 30 percent of healthy individuals and is not necessarily clinically significant. A high-titre positive (1:320 or above), particularly in the homogeneous or speckled pattern, raises the pre-test probability of a connective tissue disease and warrants specialist review. The physician commentary will contextualise the titre and pattern and recommend whether rheumatology referral is appropriate.
Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an IgM antibody that was among the first serological tests used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, but it is present in many other conditions — including viral infections, other inflammatory arthritis types, and even in 5 to 10 percent of healthy individuals — giving it limited specificity. Anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibodies are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (above 95 percent specificity) because citrullinated proteins are generated by a process specifically associated with RA joint pathology. Anti-CCP can also be detectable years before clinical RA develops, making it a valuable early marker. Together, a positive RF with a positive anti-CCP is strongly indicative of seropositive RA.
Elevated anti-TPO antibodies indicate the presence of thyroid autoimmunity — the immune system producing antibodies against the thyroid enzyme thyroid peroxidase. Many individuals have elevated anti-TPO with entirely normal TSH and free T4, which is sometimes called euthyroid Hashimoto’s or autoimmune thyroid disease in a compensated state. The significance is longitudinal: individuals with elevated anti-TPO are at increased risk of eventually developing clinical hypothyroidism. Studies suggest approximately 5 percent of anti-TPO positive euthyroid individuals develop hypothyroidism each year. Annual thyroid function testing is recommended for those with positive anti-TPO.
Most autoimmune conditions require specialist care for accurate diagnosis, disease monitoring, and management of treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and other connective tissue diseases are managed by rheumatologists. Autoimmune thyroid disease causing clinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism is managed by GPs or endocrinologists. Self-management based on blood results alone, without clinical assessment, examination, and specialist input, risks both overdiagnosis of borderline serology results and undertreatment of genuine disease. Your physician commentary will recommend the appropriate referral pathway for any positive findings.
Approximately 80 percent of autoimmune disease cases occur in women, with peak incidence in the reproductive years. The reasons are not fully understood but are thought to involve the effects of sex hormones (oestrogen promotes immune activity while testosterone is immunosuppressive), X-chromosome dosage effects (women have two X chromosomes, which contain many immune-regulatory genes), microchimerism (persistence of fetal cells in maternal tissue from pregnancy), and differences in the gut microbiome. Autoimmune conditions should therefore be high on the differential diagnosis for women aged 20 to 50 presenting with non-specific fatigue, joint pain, and diffuse multi-system symptoms.
Allergy and autoimmunity are both immune-mediated conditions, but they involve different arms of the immune system and different targets. In allergy, IgE antibodies are produced against external antigens (pollen, foods, animal dander) and trigger mast cell degranulation causing typical allergic symptoms. In autoimmune disease, the immune system produces antibodies or T-cell responses against the body’s own tissues — hence the term autoimmunity. There is some overlap in predisposition (individuals with one autoimmune or atopic condition are more likely to develop others), but they are mechanistically distinct conditions and require different investigation and management approaches.
