Raynaud's - Getting Diagnosed

Raynaud's phenomenon is often diagnosed by a GP based upon your symptoms and your medical history. It is likely that they will also arrange some blood tests, so that any underlying health conditions can be ruled out. We take you through what to expect and how to prepare for the tests.

Water Test

Your GP may place your hands in cold water or cool air to see if you show symptoms of Raynaud's. The water test shows the temperature response (by thermography) to a cold challenge - one minute immersion of hands in cold water at 15 degrees C.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can be used to check for other health conditions that could be causing your symptoms. These tests may include:

a full blood count – to check for infection or, much less commonly, a cancer of the blood, such as leukaemia
an antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test – to check for an overactive immune system, which is common in people with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
erythrocyte sedimentation rate – this test determines the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube. A faster than normal rate may signal an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune disease such as arthritis or lupus

Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples).

Preparing for a blood test

The healthcare professional who arranges your blood test will tell you whether there are any specific instructions you need to follow before your test.

For example, depending on the type of blood test, you may be asked to:

avoid eating or drinking anything, apart from water (fasting) for up to 12 hours
stop taking a certain medication

It is important to follow any instructions you're given, as this can affect the result of the test, and may mean that it needs to be delayed or carried out again.

What happens during a blood test?

A blood test usually involves taking a small sample from a blood vessel in your arm.

The arm is a convenient part of the body to use because it can be easily uncovered. The usual place for a sample to be taken from is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface.

Blood samples from children are often taken from the back of the hand. Their skin may be numbed with a special spray or cream before the sample is taken.

A tight band (tourniquet) is usually put around your upper arm. This squeezes the arm, temporarily slowing down the flow of blood and causing the vein to swell. This makes it easier for a sample to be taken.

Before taking the sample, the doctor or nurse may clean the area of skin with an antiseptic wipe.

A needle attached to a syringe or special container is inserted into the vein. The syringe is used to draw out a sample of your blood. You may feel a slight pricking or scratching sensation as the needle goes in, but it shouldn't be painful. If you don't like needles and blood, tell the person who is taking the sample so they can make you more comfortable.

When the sample has been taken, the needle will be removed. Pressure is applied to the skin for a few minutes using a cotton-wool pad. A plaster may be put on the small wound to keep it clean.

After the test

Only a small amount of blood is taken during the test so you shouldn't feel any significant after-effects. However, some people may feel dizzy and even faint during or after the test. If this has happened to you in the past, tell the person carrying out the test so they're aware and can help you feel more comfortable.

After the test, you may have a small bruise where the needle went in. Bruises can be painful, but are usually harmless and fade over the next few days.

Blood test results

After the blood sample has been taken, it will be put into a bottle and labelled with your name and details. It will then be sent to a laboratory where it will be examined under a microscope or tested with chemicals, depending on what's being checked.

The results are sent back to the hospital or to your GP. Some test results will be ready on the same day or a few days later, although others may not be available for a few weeks. You'll be told when your results will be ready and how you will receive them.

Sometimes, receiving results can be stressful and upsetting. If you're worried about the outcome of a test, you may choose to take a trusted friend or relative with you. For some tests, such as HIV, you will be offered specialist counselling to help you deal with your results.

Capillaroscopy

Have a look at the videos below to find out more about the capillaroscopy test -