What do antinuclear antibodies do

It simply means that there are autoantibodies present. Without clinical features or lab abnormalities such as leukopenia low white blood cell count , thrombocytopenia low platelet count or protein in the urine, a positive ANA means exactly that. You simply have a positive lab test without any features of an autoimmune disease. How do you test for antinuclear antibodies? Causes of a false-positive ANA include infection, malignancy, and certain medications.

Therefore, a positive ANA test does not equal a diagnosis of lupus or any autoimmune or connective tissue disease. When I have a patient with a positive ANA, it means I will need to order more blood tests and take a detailed history of their symptoms as well perform a detailed physical exam.

For an ANA test, a member of your health care team takes a sample of blood by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. The blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis. You can return to your usual activities immediately. The presence of antinuclear antibodies is a positive test result. But having a positive result doesn't mean you have a disease.

Many people with no disease have positive ANA tests — particularly women older than Some infectious diseases and cancers have been associated with the development of antinuclear antibodies, as have certain drugs. If your doctor suspects you have an autoimmune disease, he or she is likely to order a number of tests. The result of your ANA test is one piece of information your doctor can use to help determine the cause of your signs and symptoms.

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The dilution then is taken through a series of additional steps, creating tubes of , , , and dilutions, respectively. A negative ANA reading means no autoantibodies are present in the body. However, a positive ANA reading alone does not indicate an autoimmune disease. The positive ANA reading simply tells your doctor to keep looking. In fact, you may have a positive ANA without any disease process which means that the evidence is not there to make a diagnosis of lupus or any other autoimmune disease.

To make a definite diagnosis, your doctor will need more blood tests along with history of your symptoms and a physical examination. Your rheumatologist will interpret your ANA in the context of other laboratory studies and your clinical history, including family history. Remember, a single positive ANA does not imply autoimmune disease, nor does a positive ANA require immediate treatment. Lab levels vary; some autoantibodies are normal and this result may not indicate a problem.

Your rheumatologist will determine what happens next based on additional exploration. By working with your doctor and asking questions you will get the best care for your particular situation. Keep in mind, even if your ANA reading does lead to an autoimmune diagnosis, there are treatments for autoimmune diseases. This information is provided for general education only. Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment of a medical or health condition.

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