What Is The Anti-CCP Test?

An anti-CCP test (cyclic citrullinated peptide) measures antibodies in the blood. CCP antibodies are often known as anti-CCP antibodies. These are the types of antibodies called autoantibodies. Antibodies and autoantibodies are proteins produced by the immune system. Though antibodies safeguard you from various ailments by fighting foreign particles like viruses and bacteria, still autoantibodies can cause disease by killing your body’s wholesome cells mistakenly.

CCP antibodies attack healthy tissues of your joints. If an anti-CCP blood test shows CCP in your blood, then it could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is responsible for pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. More than 75 percent of people who are suffering from RA must have CCP in their bloodstream.

The cost of the CCP test is Rs. 1700 to Rs.2500, depending on your location and place.

Please check the price of the CCP test in Delhi/NCR, your nearby centers and other details.

Test Summary for Anti CCP Test

What Is Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide?

Due to inflammation, your body converts the amino acid arginine to the amino acid citrulline. Cyclic citrullinated peptides are circular proteins that comprise citrulline. If you are having rheumatoid arthritis, then your joints will produce excess citrulline that can change the structure of proteins. Your immune system is capable of recognizing the changes in the proteins and responds by making cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies. Autoantibodies are antibodies that attack a person’s wholesome cells and tissues.

The Purpose of the CCP Test

The prime purpose of the anti-CCP test is to check whether you have cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in your bloodstream or not. Your doctor will refer to this test to check if you have RA since it is possible to measure cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in your blood with a blood test.

Why Do You Need the CCP Test?

Your doctor may suggest this test if you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. These include:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness, especially in the morning
• Joint swelling
• Fatigue
• Low-grade Fever

A CCP antibody test may help your doctor to check the severity of the disease and possible damage. 

Preparation of Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test

You may not need any preparation for the test. But if you are taking OTC supplements and other prescribed drugs, inform your healthcare provider about the same. You may need to stop the medications for several hours before the test.

Procedure of CCP Test

• Once you reach your nearest lab or hospital, an experienced nurse or technician will check your arms to identify the vein from which he will collect the blood
• After the identification of the vein, he will clean and disinfect the area with an antiseptic
• He will insert a needle into your vein to collect your blood sample.
• A small amount of blood will be accumulated in a test tube
• Once your sample collection is finished, the person will remove the needle and place a bandage over the site.
• The entire procedure gets completed within five minutes.

Interpreting Results of Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide

If your CCP antibody results are positive, it means these antibodies are present in your blood. A negative result indicates there are no CCP antibodies in your body. The meaning of these results may depend on the results of a rheumatoid factor (RF) test as well as a physical exam.

If you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and your results show:

Positive CCP Antibodies and Positive RF

These indicate you have rheumatoid arthritis

Positive CCP Antibodies and Negative RF

These portray you are in the initial stages of rheumatoid arthritis or will develop it in the future.

Negative CCP Antibodies and Negative RF

You are less susceptible to getting rheumatoid arthritis.

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend other tests to find out what is causing your symptoms.

Autoimmune conditions that may show positive test results for CCP antibodies are,

• Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (chronic liver disease) 
• Psoriatic arthritis  
• Palindromic rheumatism
• Systemic sclerosis
• Sjögren’s syndrome  
• Systemic lupus erythematosus 
• Seronegative arthritis 
• Osteoarthritis