Question:
I have symptoms which led me to ask to be tested for lupus. The symptoms (joint pain, painful mouth sores, red rash on face, sharp chest pain on deep breath, extreme fatigue) come and go and aren't all necessarily present at the same time. I have the requisition to have the blood work done to help see what may be going on...Presently, though, I am pretty much asymptomatic (except my face is always red--rosacea?) So my question is: When is the optimal time to go for the blood tests? Should I hang on to the requisition and wait for a flare up of joint pain, and mouth sores? Or if I did have lupus, would there be enough levels of what the tests are looking for circulating to be picked up even when I am asymptomatic?

Answer:
Usually with lupus the autoimmune blood tests such as the ANA are elevated, even without a flare. The inflammation levels on blood tests may vary with a flare (ESR or CRP), but in general, I would recommend you just do the tests soon irrespective of a flare or not.