What is an Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test?
An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a blood test that checks for antinuclear antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are proteins that are produced by the immune system to combat foreign things such as viruses and bacteria. An antinuclear antibody, on the other hand, attacks your own healthy cells. It is referred to as "antinuclear" because it attacks the nucleus (center) of the cells.
A few antinuclear antibodies present in the blood are normal. However, a high score might indicate an autoimmune condition. When you have an autoimmune condition, your immune system mistakenly attacks the cells of your organs and tissues. These abnormalities can lead to major health issues.
Other names: Other names for this test are antinuclear antibody panel, fluorescent antinuclear antibody, FANA, ANA, ANA reflexive panel.
What is the use of the ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) Test?
An ANA test is used to aid in the diagnosis of autoimmune illnesses such as:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) : The most frequent kind of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus is a chronic (long-term) illness that affects the joints, skin, heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and brain, among other organs.
- Rheumatoid arthritis : It is a joint disease that causes discomfort and swelling in the feet, wrists, and hands.
- Scleroderma : It is an uncommon illness that affects the skin, blood vessels, and organs.
- Sjogren's syndrome : It is a rare condition that affects the glands responsible for producing tears and saliva, as well as other regions of the body.
- Addison's disease : It is a condition that affects your adrenal glands and causes exhaustion and weakness.
- Autoimmune hepatitis : Autoimmune hepatitis:It causes liver swelling.
Why do I require an ANA test?
You require an ANA test when your body exhibits signs of an autoimmune illness, your doctor may prescribe an ANA test. The symptoms vary depending on whatever area of the body is affected. They might include:
- Fever
- Rash or skin blisters
- Changes in skin color
- Fatigue
- Muscle ache
What happens during an ANA test?
During an ANA test, a tiny needle will be inserted by a healthcare expert to draw blood from a vein in your arm. Following the insertion of the needle, a little amount of blood will be collected in a test tube or vial. When the needle goes in or out, you might feel a slight sting. This normally takes five minutes.
How to prepare for the test?
An ANA test does not need any particular preparation prior to the test. Doctor will inform you if you need to take this test empty stomach or not.
Is there any risk in the test?
Having a blood test poses relatively no risks or danger. One might experience some discomfort or bruising in the area where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will go away soon.
What do the findings imply?
The results of an ANA test cannot be used to diagnose a specific illness. Your ANA test results, together with other tests and information about your health, will be used by your clinician to determine a final diagnosis.
- A negative result : A negative ANA test result indicates that antinuclear antibodies were not detected in the blood. Therefore, you are less likely to suffer an autoimmune illness. However, a negative ANA test does not rule out the potential of having an autoimmune illness.
- A positive result : A positive ANA test result indicates that antinuclear antibodies were detected in the blood. It might indicate the following conditions:
- Lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Another type of autoimmune illness.
- Another health condition that can induce antinuclear antibodies, such as cancer, or viral infection (antinuclear antibodies from a virus are typically transient).
- If your ANA test results are positive, your doctor will almost certainly prescribe more tests to determine a diagnosis.
Antinuclear antibodies in the blood may not necessarily indicate an illness. Antinuclear antibodies are found in the blood of some healthy persons too, and their levels tend to rise with age. A positive ANA test result might be seen in up to one-third of healthy persons over 65. Certain medications can also induce antinuclear antibodies.
Speak with your physician if you have any questions regarding your results.
