Anti-nuclear antibody

Commonly abbreviated as ANA, anti-nuclear antibody tests are a type of immunoassay looking for autoantibodies to the nucleus of certain type of cells in our body commonly seen in lupus.

ANA Immunofluorescence

Purpose

• The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test can show if your immune system is more likely to make the autoantibodies of lupus.

Lupus band test

Interpretation of a positive result

• Most people with lupus test positive for ANA.
• But, a positive ANA does not always mean you have lupus.
• If you test positive for ANA, your doctor will likely order more tests for antibodies that are specific to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Other conditions

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type of lupus, a chronic disease affecting multiple parts of the body, including the joints, blood vessels, kidneys, and brain.
• Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints, mostly in the hands and feet
• Scleroderma, a rare disease affecting the skin, joints, and blood vessels
• Sjogren's syndrome, a rare disease affecting the body's moisture-making glands

Interpretation of a negative ANA test

If you test negative for ANA, it is less likely that you have lupus.

Anti-nuclear antibody Resources
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