Guest guest Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Antinuclear Antibody Test http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html Also known as: ANA, fluorescent antinuclear antibody, FANA At A Glance Why get tested? To help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus and rule out certain other autoimmune diseases When to get tested? If your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of SLE or drug-induced lupus Sample required? A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm The Test Sample What is being tested? The ANA test identifies the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in blood. These antibodies are produced by the body's immune system – the body's defense system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. Sometimes the immune system malfunctions and produces substances that attack your body's own cells and tissues instead of foreign substances. When this happens, the resulting disease is termed an autoimmune disease (autoimmunity means immunity to self). The presence of ANA is a marker of an autoimmune process and is associated with several autoimmune diseases but is most commonly seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm. The Test How is it used? The test is used to help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus, but may also be positive in cases of scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, Raynaud’s disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and many other autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases. For this reason, SLE, which is commonly known as lupus, can be tricky to diagnose correctly. Because the ANA test result may be positive in a number of these other diseases, additional testing can help to establish a diagnosis of SLE. Your doctor may run other tests that are considered subsets of the general ANA test and that are used in conjunction with patient symptoms and clinical history to rule out a diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases. When is it ordered? Because autoimmune diseases can be difficult to diagnose, this test offers a reliable first step for identifying SLE and some other autoimmune disorders with a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms, including painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, extreme fatigue, and a red rash, may come and go over time and may be mild or severe. It may take months or years for these symptoms to show a pattern that might suggest SLE or any of the other autoimmune diseases. What does the test result mean? A positive test result may suggest an autoimmune disease, but further specific testing is required to assist in making a final diagnosis. ANA test results can be positive in people without any known autoimmune disease. While this is not common, the frequency of a false positive ANA result increases as people get older. About 95% of SLE patients have a positive ANA test result. If a patient has symptoms of SLE, such as arthritis, a rash, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia (a low number of blood platelets), then s/he probably has SLE. In these cases, a positive ANA result can be useful to support SLE diagnosis. If needed, two subset tests, anti-dsDNA and anti-SM, can help to show that the condition is SLE. If anti-dsDNA antibodies are found, this supports the diagnosis of SLE. Higher amounts of anti-Sm are more specific for SLE. A positive ANA can also mean that the patient has drug-induced lupus. This condition is associated with the development of autoantibodies to histones. An anti-histone test can be given to support the diagnosis of drug-induced lupus. Other conditions in which a positive ANA test result man be seen include: * Sjögren’s syndrome: Between 40% and 70% of patients with this condition have a positive ANA test result. While this finding supports the diagnosis, it is not required for diagnosis. Again, your doctor may want to test for two subsets of ANA, the ribonucleoproteins SSA and SSB. The frequency of antibodies to SSA in patients with Sjögren’s can be 90% or greater if the test is done by enzyme immunoassay. * Scleroderma: About 60% to 90% of patients with scleroderma have a positive ANA finding. In patients who may have this condition, the subset tests can help distinguished two forms of the disease, limited versus diffuse. The diffuse form is more severe. Limited disease is most closely associated with the anticentromere pattern of ANA staining (anticentromere test), while the diffuse form is associated with autoantibodies to the anti–Scl-70. * A positive result on the ANA also may show up in patients with Raynaud’s disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, but a doctor needs to rely on clinical symptoms and history for diagnosis. A negative ANA result makes SLE an unlikely diagnosis. Unless an error in the testing is suspected, it is not necessary to immediately repeat a negative ANA test. However, because autoimmune diseases change over time, it may be worthwhile to repeat the ANA test in the future. Aside from rare cases, further autoantibody (subset) testing is not necessary if a patient has a negative ANA result. Is there anything else I should know? Some drugs and infections as well as other conditions mentioned above can give a false positive result for the ANA test. These drugs may bring on a condition that includes SLE symptoms, called drug-induced lupus. When the drugs are stopped, the symptoms usually go away. Although many medications have been reported to cause drug-induced lupus, those most closely associated with this syndrome include hydralazine, isoniazid, procainamide, and several anticonvulsants. Common Questions 1. Why is it called “anti-nuclear” antibody? ANA are gamma-globulins (types of antibodies) found in patients with certain autoimmune diseases. ANAs are directed against certain components found in the center, or nucleus, of a cell in the body. 2. If I have a negative ANA test, will my doctor order any other antibody tests? Tests for specific autoantibodies are almost never positive in patients who get a negative ANA result. These tests generally should not be ordered in patients with negative ANA test results. 3. My doctor told me my ANA test is positive but s/he isn’t sure if I have lupus. How can this be? The body’s immune system normally produces antibodies that are designed to fight off diseases and infections. In an autoimmune disease, something goes wrong with this system and the person’s body begins producing antibodies against their own tissues. Antinuclear antibodies are antibodies that go against the cell nucleus, or central controlling part of the cell. The ANA test looks at the concentration of antinuclear antibodies in a person’s blood. A positive result means that you have a higher than “normal” concentration of these antibodies. This is one of the tools in diagnosing lupus as well as several other autoimmune diseases, so a positive result may be related to lupus or another disease. Or, you may simply have a higher than normal concentration of these antibodies just as some people’s normal body temperature is higher or lower than 98.6°. Even among people with lupus, these results can vary widely – one person can be in remission at a certain level of ANA while another can be extremely ill at the same level. Interpreting what these results mean for you is the work of your doctor. And, your doctor may need to compare your test results as well as the severity of your symptoms over a period of time in order to make a definitive diagnosis. This additional time may also allow your doctor the opportunity to eliminate other possible causes for your symptoms. 4. Is SLE the same thing as lupus? There are actually three forms of lupus. SLE is the form that is commonly called “lupus.” Systemic lupus means that it can attack almost any organ or system in your body. This is the form with the most severe effects on the body. Discoid lupus is always limited to skin and the symptom is a rash on the face, neck, or scalp. Some drugs can bring on the symptoms of SLE, and this condition is called drug-induced lupus. The symptoms usually fade when the drug use stops. This form of lupus happens only to an extremely small percentage of patients taking such drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 I tried to send this a few hours ago and I did not see it posted. Trying again, if it gets duplicated - Sorry!! Antinuclear Antibody Test Antinuclear Antibody Test http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html Also known as: ANA, fluorescent antinuclear antibody, FANA At A Glance Why get tested? To help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus and rule out certain other autoimmune diseases When to get tested? If your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of SLE or drug-induced lupus Sample required? A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm The Test Sample What is being tested? The ANA test identifies the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in blood. These antibodies are produced by the body's immune system - the body's defense system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. Sometimes the immune system malfunctions and produces substances that attack your body's own cells and tissues instead of foreign substances. When this happens, the resulting disease is termed an autoimmune disease (autoimmunity means immunity to self). The presence of ANA is a marker of an autoimmune process and is associated with several autoimmune diseases but is most commonly seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm. The Test How is it used? The test is used to help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus, but may also be positive in cases of scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, Raynaud's disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and many other autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases. For this reason, SLE, which is commonly known as lupus, can be tricky to diagnose correctly. Because the ANA test result may be positive in a number of these other diseases, additional testing can help to establish a diagnosis of SLE. Your doctor may run other tests that are considered subsets of the general ANA test and that are used in conjunction with patient symptoms and clinical history to rule out a diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases. When is it ordered? Because autoimmune diseases can be difficult to diagnose, this test offers a reliable first step for identifying SLE and some other autoimmune disorders with a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms, including painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, extreme fatigue, and a red rash, may come and go over time and may be mild or severe. It may take months or years for these symptoms to show a pattern that might suggest SLE or any of the other autoimmune diseases. What does the test result mean? A positive test result may suggest an autoimmune disease, but further specific testing is required to assist in making a final diagnosis. ANA test results can be positive in people without any known autoimmune disease. While this is not common, the frequency of a false positive ANA result increases as people get older. About 95% of SLE patients have a positive ANA test result. If a patient has symptoms of SLE, such as arthritis, a rash, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia (a low number of blood platelets), then s/he probably has SLE. In these cases, a positive ANA result can be useful to support SLE diagnosis. If needed, two subset tests, anti-dsDNA and anti-SM, can help to show that the condition is SLE. If anti-dsDNA antibodies are found, this supports the diagnosis of SLE. Higher amounts of anti-Sm are more specific for SLE. A positive ANA can also mean that the patient has drug-induced lupus. This condition is associated with the development of autoantibodies to histones. An anti-histone test can be given to support the diagnosis of drug-induced lupus. Other conditions in which a positive ANA test result man be seen include: * Sjögren's syndrome: Between 40% and 70% of patients with this condition have a positive ANA test result. While this finding supports the diagnosis, it is not required for diagnosis. Again, your doctor may want to test for two subsets of ANA, the ribonucleoproteins SSA and SSB. The frequency of antibodies to SSA in patients with Sjögren's can be 90% or greater if the test is done by enzyme immunoassay. * Scleroderma: About 60% to 90% of patients with scleroderma have a positive ANA finding. In patients who may have this condition, the subset tests can help distinguished two forms of the disease, limited versus diffuse. The diffuse form is more severe. Limited disease is most closely associated with the anticentromere pattern of ANA staining (anticentromere test), while the diffuse form is associated with autoantibodies to the anti-Scl-70. * A positive result on the ANA also may show up in patients with Raynaud's disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, but a doctor needs to rely on clinical symptoms and history for diagnosis. A negative ANA result makes SLE an unlikely diagnosis. Unless an error in the testing is suspected, it is not necessary to immediately repeat a negative ANA test. However, because autoimmune diseases change over time, it may be worthwhile to repeat the ANA test in the future. Aside from rare cases, further autoantibody (subset) testing is not necessary if a patient has a negative ANA result. Is there anything else I should know? Some drugs and infections as well as other conditions mentioned above can give a false positive result for the ANA test. These drugs may bring on a condition that includes SLE symptoms, called drug-induced lupus. When the drugs are stopped, the symptoms usually go away. Although many medications have been reported to cause drug-induced lupus, those most closely associated with this syndrome include hydralazine, isoniazid, procainamide, and several anticonvulsants. Common Questions 1. Why is it called " anti-nuclear " antibody? ANA are gamma-globulins (types of antibodies) found in patients with certain autoimmune diseases. ANAs are directed against certain components found in the center, or nucleus, of a cell in the body. 2. If I have a negative ANA test, will my doctor order any other antibody tests? Tests for specific autoantibodies are almost never positive in patients who get a negative ANA result. These tests generally should not be ordered in patients with negative ANA test results. 3. My doctor told me my ANA test is positive but s/he isn't sure if I have lupus. How can this be? The body's immune system normally produces antibodies that are designed to fight off diseases and infections. In an autoimmune disease, something goes wrong with this system and the person's body begins producing antibodies against their own tissues. Antinuclear antibodies are antibodies that go against the cell nucleus, or central controlling part of the cell. The ANA test looks at the concentration of antinuclear antibodies in a person's blood. A positive result means that you have a higher than " normal " concentration of these antibodies. This is one of the tools in diagnosing lupus as well as several other autoimmune diseases, so a positive result may be related to lupus or another disease. Or, you may simply have a higher than normal concentration of these antibodies just as some people's normal body temperature is higher or lower than 98.6°. Even among people with lupus, these results can vary widely - one person can be in remission at a certain level of ANA while another can be extremely ill at the same level. Interpreting what these results mean for you is the work of your doctor. And, your doctor may need to compare your test results as well as the severity of your symptoms over a period of time in order to make a definitive diagnosis. This additional time may also allow your doctor the opportunity to eliminate other possible causes for your symptoms. 4. Is SLE the same thing as lupus? There are actually three forms of lupus. SLE is the form that is commonly called " lupus. " Systemic lupus means that it can attack almost any organ or system in your body. This is the form with the most severe effects on the body. Discoid lupus is always limited to skin and the symptom is a rash on the face, neck, or scalp. Some drugs can bring on the symptoms of SLE, and this condition is called drug-induced lupus. The symptoms usually fade when the drug use stops. This form of lupus happens only to an extremely small percentage of patients taking such drugs. To leave this mailing list, send request to: -unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 Reposting an older article about ANA since Dianne was asking about her granddaughters. Thought some might find it interesting. Michele ( 22, spondy) Antinuclear Antibody Test Antinuclear Antibody Test http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html Also known as: ANA, fluorescent antinuclear antibody, FANA At A Glance Why get tested? To help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus and rule out certain other autoimmune diseases When to get tested? If your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of SLE or drug-induced lupus Sample required? A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm The Test Sample What is being tested? The ANA test identifies the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in blood. These antibodies are produced by the body's immune system - the body's defense system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. Sometimes the immune system malfunctions and produces substances that attack your body's own cells and tissues instead of foreign substances. When this happens, the resulting disease is termed an autoimmune disease (autoimmunity means immunity to self). The presence of ANA is a marker of an autoimmune process and is associated with several autoimmune diseases but is most commonly seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm. The Test How is it used? The test is used to help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus, but may also be positive in cases of scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, Raynaud's disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and many other autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases. For this reason, SLE, which is commonly known as lupus, can be tricky to diagnose correctly. Because the ANA test result may be positive in a number of these other diseases, additional testing can help to establish a diagnosis of SLE. Your doctor may run other tests that are considered subsets of the general ANA test and that are used in conjunction with patient symptoms and clinical history to rule out a diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases. When is it ordered? Because autoimmune diseases can be difficult to diagnose, this test offers a reliable first step for identifying SLE and some other autoimmune disorders with a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms, including painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, extreme fatigue, and a red rash, may come and go over time and may be mild or severe. It may take months or years for these symptoms to show a pattern that might suggest SLE or any of the other autoimmune diseases. What does the test result mean? A positive test result may suggest an autoimmune disease, but further specific testing is required to assist in making a final diagnosis. ANA test results can be positive in people without any known autoimmune disease. While this is not common, the frequency of a false positive ANA result increases as people get older. About 95% of SLE patients have a positive ANA test result. If a patient has symptoms of SLE, such as arthritis, a rash, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia (a low number of blood platelets), then s/he probably has SLE. In these cases, a positive ANA result can be useful to support SLE diagnosis. If needed, two subset tests, anti-dsDNA and anti-SM, can help to show that the condition is SLE. If anti-dsDNA antibodies are found, this supports the diagnosis of SLE. Higher amounts of anti-Sm are more specific for SLE. A positive ANA can also mean that the patient has drug-induced lupus. This condition is associated with the development of autoantibodies to histones. An anti-histone test can be given to support the diagnosis of drug-induced lupus. Other conditions in which a positive ANA test result man be seen include: * Sjögren's syndrome: Between 40% and 70% of patients with this condition have a positive ANA test result. While this finding supports the diagnosis, it is not required for diagnosis. Again, your doctor may want to test for two subsets of ANA, the ribonucleoproteins SSA and SSB. The frequency of antibodies to SSA in patients with Sjögren's can be 90% or greater if the test is done by enzyme immunoassay. * Scleroderma: About 60% to 90% of patients with scleroderma have a positive ANA finding. In patients who may have this condition, the subset tests can help distinguished two forms of the disease, limited versus diffuse. The diffuse form is more severe. Limited disease is most closely associated with the anticentromere pattern of ANA staining (anticentromere test), while the diffuse form is associated with autoantibodies to the anti-Scl-70. * A positive result on the ANA also may show up in patients with Raynaud's disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, but a doctor needs to rely on clinical symptoms and history for diagnosis. A negative ANA result makes SLE an unlikely diagnosis. Unless an error in the testing is suspected, it is not necessary to immediately repeat a negative ANA test. However, because autoimmune diseases change over time, it may be worthwhile to repeat the ANA test in the future. Aside from rare cases, further autoantibody (subset) testing is not necessary if a patient has a negative ANA result. Is there anything else I should know? Some drugs and infections as well as other conditions mentioned above can give a false positive result for the ANA test. These drugs may bring on a condition that includes SLE symptoms, called drug-induced lupus. When the drugs are stopped, the symptoms usually go away. Although many medications have been reported to cause drug-induced lupus, those most closely associated with this syndrome include hydralazine, isoniazid, procainamide, and several anticonvulsants. Common Questions 1. Why is it called " anti-nuclear " antibody? ANA are gamma-globulins (types of antibodies) found in patients with certain autoimmune diseases. ANAs are directed against certain components found in the center, or nucleus, of a cell in the body. 2. If I have a negative ANA test, will my doctor order any other antibody tests? Tests for specific autoantibodies are almost never positive in patients who get a negative ANA result. These tests generally should not be ordered in patients with negative ANA test results. 3. My doctor told me my ANA test is positive but s/he isn't sure if I have lupus. How can this be? The body's immune system normally produces antibodies that are designed to fight off diseases and infections. In an autoimmune disease, something goes wrong with this system and the person's body begins producing antibodies against their own tissues. Antinuclear antibodies are antibodies that go against the cell nucleus, or central controlling part of the cell. The ANA test looks at the concentration of antinuclear antibodies in a person's blood. A positive result means that you have a higher than " normal " concentration of these antibodies. This is one of the tools in diagnosing lupus as well as several other autoimmune diseases, so a positive result may be related to lupus or another disease. Or, you may simply have a higher than normal concentration of these antibodies just as some people's normal body temperature is higher or lower than 98.6°. Even among people with lupus, these results can vary widely - one person can be in remission at a certain level of ANA while another can be extremely ill at the same level. Interpreting what these results mean for you is the work of your doctor. And, your doctor may need to compare your test results as well as the severity of your symptoms over a period of time in order to make a definitive diagnosis. This additional time may also allow your doctor the opportunity to eliminate other possible causes for your symptoms. 4. Is SLE the same thing as lupus? There are actually three forms of lupus. SLE is the form that is commonly called " lupus. " Systemic lupus means that it can attack almost any organ or system in your body. This is the form with the most severe effects on the body. Discoid lupus is always limited to skin and the symptom is a rash on the face, neck, or scalp. Some drugs can bring on the symptoms of SLE, and this condition is called drug-induced lupus. The symptoms usually fade when the drug use stops. This form of lupus happens only to an extremely small percentage of patients taking such drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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