Once a person has at least one joint that is painful and inflamed, a rheumatologist can use a ten point check to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The assessment covers four areas: joint involvement, serology, acute phase reactants plus duration of symptoms. There is a total of ten points. A score of six confirms a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Here is how it breaks down. Choose one from each group and total..

A. Joint involvement
One large joint 0 points
2-10 large joints 1 point
1-3 small joints 2 points
4-10 small joints 3 points
Greater than 10 joints including at least one small joint 5 points

B. Serology (blood tests)
Negative RF and negative ACPA 0
Low positive RF or low positive ACPA 2
High positive RF or high positive ACPA 3

C. Acute phase reactants(inflammation blood tests)
Normal CRP and normal ESR 0
Abnormal CRP or abnormal ERS 1

D. Duration of symptoms
< 6 weeks 0
 6 weeks 1

My choices are a total of 7. Note I am seronegative, and it took a lot of joint involvement to get a positive diagnosis. Your doctor should have ordered these lab tests. Ask for a printout of each. He should be fine with it. You should have all test result copies for your records.