ANA test results explained in plain English

March 16, 2004

ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) tests .. confusing .. aren't they?

Let me try to explain the process so it is easier to understand.

When the lab tests your blood sample for ANA cells, they start by taking

a couple of droplets of blood and dilute them with another liquid,

usually alcohol.

A result of 1:20 reads 1 to 20 .. or 1 drop of blood to 20 drops of

alcohol.

If they see ANA cells, then they dilute it again ..

doubling the amount of alcohol each time..

then they read the results again .. and if they see more cells, then

they dilute it again ..

and again .. and again .. until they see a minuscule amount to no more

cells.

So .. 1:20 is usually where they start (remember to read it as 1 to 20)

For some reason only known to the phlebotomists (smiles .. the vampires

who draw our blood), on the higher readings such as 1:160 they will

leave off the zero. Not always, but sometimes.

So a reading of 1:16 is really 1:160 .. (1 to 160 = 1 drop of blood to

160 drops of alcohol).

There were so many cells in your blood that it took a whole lot more

alcohol to dilute the sample enough where no cells showed up.

The cells that are " captured " are also put on a slide and stained with a

special concoction of antigens. After the cells have been stained, they

are washed and are then viewed under a fluorescent lighted microscope.

The cells will glow in different stain patterns. The patterns have been

divided into four to six groups (depending on the testing facility) and

determine what kind of disease correlates to each pattern.

Example: a reading of 1:160 with a Homogeneous pattern is almost a

definite diagnosis of SLE (lupus).

From a low reading to a high reading:

1:20 = negative

1:40 = very low positive

1:80 = low positive

1:160 = medium positive

1:320 = high positive

1:640 = very high positive

I hope this helped you some.

" Rion "

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