Bloodwork Questions

[mshistory]

Hi all,

When my first panel of blood work was done a few months ago, Quest didn't run all of the tests my doctor ordered (they didn't run SS-B or any of the more specific tests for Lupus) so my rheumy wrote those on the Rx I'm supposed to take to the lab about a week before my next visit with him. But I've been on Plaquenil for a couple of months already. Does anyone know if that will affect the antibodies in my blood? If there was something else for my rheumy to catch, I'm just concerned it will be negative now because of the Plaquenil.

Also, I was going to get these tests done this week but I've got a cold - will that affect the CBC? Should I wait?

Thanks so much!

[Jozee]

I don't know the answers to your questions but hopefully someone will be along soon with information. Just wanted to say good luck with your test and hope your cold doesn't last very long.

[Calli66]

Plaquenil never changed my bloodwork lab results, but with some people it seems to do that. Just have to see what happens. CBC changes when your sick sometimes--I think it's the white cells--not sure about that. The levels do go up and down over days or weeks. If you're concerned and can wait until after the cold goes away, go ahead and do that. I get CBC done about every 3 months, and have figured out that if you get it done enough times, you can spot what's "stable" for you, and what's a trend to something different. The timing of the test is probably not worth stressing out over in the long run.

C

[mshistory]

Thanks for the responses! I think I'm just going to go get it done this week so I can stop worrying about it  My rheumy left the clinic he was practicing in so I'm still waiting for him to set up his new office and have no way of contacting him right now.