Blood tests can be used to look for how much inflammation there is in the body, monitor certain side effects of the medicines the patient is taking and/or help classify the patient's rheumatological condition.

X-rays are used to give a picture of the bones and joints. An x-ray can help to check the position and condition of the bones near a joint.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) gives even more detailed pictures of joints and organs and may be helpful to check if the joint is damaged. Occasionally, if more detailed information about the joints is required, a dye is injected into the vein to show more detail in the picture.

A joint injection is most often done to deliver medicine directly into the joint. This may be done when the other medication the patient is taking is not controlling the arthritis well enough or if the patient has only a few swollen joints. In older children the joint injections are done with the child inhaling Entonox (laughing gas) which helps relieve the discomfort of the procedure. Younger children are given a general anaesthetic.

Some medications used in rheumatology are given as an intravenous infusion. These are given in hospital as a day admission.

Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves/echoes to give images of soft tissues and fluid. These images can be helpful to show areas of inflammation.