It might be helpful to you to have a conversation with your child’s doctor to better understand how they are using the lab test results, and this might help you feel more comfortable that you don’t need to concentrate only on the numbers, and in understanding how medication decision-making happens.

For most of the medications that are used to treat children with arthritis (naproxen, methotrexate, biologics), medication levels are not tested in blood tests.  The lab tests that are done are usually to monitor possible side effects, such as elevated liver function tests; standard practice is to check surveillance labs approximately every 3-4 months  In most circumstances, the level of an inflammatory marker on a blood test would not be used as the sole reason for intensifying or decreasing medication.  Deciding in changing medication would include knowing your child’s current symptoms and their physical examination.