What is an Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test?
An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a blood test that checks for antinuclear antibodies in the blood.
These antibodies might include
- 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 significant health issues.
What is the Use of the Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test?
An ANA test is used to aid in the diagnosis of autoimmune illnesses such as:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) : The most frequent 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 is a joint disease that causes discomfort and swelling in the feet, wrists, and hands.
- Scleroderma is an uncommon illness affecting 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 causes liver swelling.
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Get A Second OpinionWhy 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 colour
- 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 small amount of blood will be collected in a test tube or vial. You might feel a slight sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes five minutes.
How do you Prepare for the Antinuclear Antibody Test?
An ANA test does not require any particular preparation prior to the test. Your doctor will inform you if you need to take this test on an empty stomach or not.
Is there any Risk in the Antinuclear Antibody Test?
Having a blood test poses relatively no risks or danger. One might experience some discomfort or bruising in the needle's insertion area, 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 clinician will use your ANA test results and other tests and information about your health to determine a final diagnosis.
- A negative result: A negative Antinuclear Antibody (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 disease.
- A positive result: A positive Antinuclear Antibody (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 is 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 some healthy persons' blood, 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.
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Book an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
A positive ANA test, in most situations, shows that your immune system has started an unintentional attack on your tissues, often known as an autoimmune response, and you have an autoimmune disease.
An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a blood test that checks for antinuclear antibodies in your blood.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the most common causes of a positive ANA test. Sjögren's syndrome and scleroderma can also cause ANA-positive reports.
Normal range of ANA: Titres reported in ratios 1:40, 1:80, 1:160, 1:320, and 1:640.
The cost of an Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test in India varies depending on the city. The usual price is between Rs.500 and Rs.800.
You can get an ANA test at Medicover Hospitals, which offers various diagnostic tests.
Get treated for autoimmune diseases at Medicover Hospitals by the top expert doctors who treat this condition precisely.
An ANA test requires a blood sample. You can eat or drink typically before the test if your sample is just being used for an ANA test. If your blood sample will be used for other testing, you may be required to fast before the test. Your doctor will give you instructions.
You should take an ANA test when your doctor suspects that you have symptoms of an autoimmune disorder.
The following can interfere with an ANA test:
- Being older than 65.
- Having cancer.
- Taking certain medicines.
- Having a viral infection.
- Having a long-term infection.
