Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis: Why Normal Labs Don't Mean You're Fine

Can you have rheumatoid arthritis with normal blood tests? In this video, double board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Diana Girnita is joined by her patient Jill, who spent years being told her labs were fine — until she was finally diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and started the treatment that changed everything. Roughly a third of people with rheumatoid arthritis test negative for rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP. Their disease is just as real, and just as damaging, but they're far more likely to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told the pain is stress. Jill saw a hand surgeon, a dermatologist, a podiatrist, another rheumatologist, and several renowned institutions before anyone got it right. Dr. Girnita explains what seronegative RA is, why the blood tests miss it, and how the diagnosis is actually made. QUESTIONS THIS VIDEO ANSWERS: ❓ What is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis? → Rheumatoid arthritis in a person whose rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibody tests come back negative. ❓ Can you have rheumatoid arthritis with a negative blood test? → Yes — a negative rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP does not rule out RA. ❓ How is seronegative RA diagnosed? → Through clinical examination, symptom pattern, imaging, and inflammatory markers rather than antibody tests alone. ❓ Why is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis so often missed? → Because many clinicians treat a negative antibody test as proof there's no disease, and patients get referred from specialist to specialist instead. ❓ Is seronegative RA less serious than seropositive RA? → No — it can cause the same joint damage and needs the same early, effective treatment. ❓ What should you do if your labs are normal but your joints hurt? → Ask for a rheumatology evaluation focused on the clinical picture, not just the bloodwork. COVERED: • the specialists she saw before getting an answer — hand surgeon, dermatologist, podiatrist, another rheumatologist • why renowned institutions still missed it • how the correct diagnosis was finally made • the treatment that worked • what Jill wants other patients to know. BOOKS & RESOURCES: ➡️ Thriving with Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://amzn.to/4gyHPfn ➡️ Rheumatoid Arthritis Journal: https://amzn.to/3SQfisK CONNECT WITH DR. GIRNITA & THE COMMUNITY: 👥 Facebook Group — Autoimmune Disease & Arthritis Support Group:   / 3685130571554200   🩺 Book a telemedicine consultation: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/ ✏️ Blog: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/blog/ 🖥 Website: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/ 🤳 Instagram: @rheumatologistoncall 📧 Contact: contact@rheumatologistoncall.com 🔔 Subscribe:    / @rheumatologistoncall   👩🏻‍⚕️ ABOUT DR. DIANA GIRNITA, MD, PhD Dr. Diana Girnita is a double board-certified physician in rheumatology and internal medicine. She earned a PhD in immunology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, an immunology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, and a rheumatology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. She also completed Nutrition Science training at Stanford University and a Mindfulness course at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Girnita is the founder & CEO of Rheumatologist OnCall, a telemedicine practice focused on broadening access to rheumatology care and offering patients an integrative-medicine approach. She helps patients understand autoimmune disease and arthritis and builds personalized treatment plans that combine the right medication with proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management. As she reminds her patients: "You have a disease, but YOU are not the disease." ⚠️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content — including text, graphics, images, and information — is for general educational purposes only and does not replace a medical consultation. Any comments or recommendations made in the comment section by anyone other than Rheumatologist OnCall do not reflect our opinion or recommendation. #seronegativeRA #rheumatoidarthritis #RAdiagnosis #misdiagnosis #rheumatoidfactor #antiCCP #autoimmunedisease #rheumatologist