How and when can a rheumatoid factor be produced?

Antibody produced: There are plasma cells that produce antibodies. These are throughout the body and especially in the bone marrow and lymph nodes and they also circulate. They are stimulated to produce rheumatoid factor, when they are exposed to an antigen. It can also be produced in many conditions including infections, chronic illness, rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases.

Anytime: Rheumatoid factor is a protein and may be found under various circumstances. Having a positive rheumatopid factor is not synonamous with having rheumatoid arthritis. Various protein abnormalities can procduce rheumatoid factor and it may be seen in other conditions as well.