So, what are antibodies? They are proteins produced by our immune system to combat viruses, bacteria, and other germs. However, even our immune system can falter and mistake parts of our own body for foreign invaders. Then it...
Introduction
An antinuclear antibody test or ANA is referred to as a blood test that detects certain kinds of antibodies in our bodies.
So, what are antibodies? They are proteins produced by our immune system to combat viruses, bacteria, and other germs. However, even our immune system can falter and mistake parts of our own body for foreign invaders. Then it begins to act quickly and releases a special type of antibodies, called “autoantibodies,” which begin to attack our cells and tissues. Hence, autoantibodies are a threat to our bodies as they can damage the joints, muscles, skin, and other parts of the body.
And they can bring out an ailment known as autoimmune disease. These include:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus, (it is the commonest type of lupus)
- Scleroderma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
At times, people who have cancer or those taking certain medications have positive test results on an ANA test. Even people without health issues test positive on ANA tests.
Why is an ANA test done?
Usually, the doctor orders an ANA test if a patient exhibits symptoms of an autoimmune disease, like:
- Joint and/or muscle pain, swelling, or stiffness
- Recurring or continuous fever
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Cheeks becoming red with rashes,
- The bridge of the nose appears like a butterfly
- Slight sensitivity
- Hair loss
- Numbness and tingling in the hands or feet, etc.
As these symptoms become palpable in a patient, the doctor generally advises going for an ANA test.
ANA Test: Preparation and procedure
There is no special preparation a patient has to make to undergo an ANA test. They usually don't need to prepare for the test. However, one should apprise the doctor beforehand about taking any medicines, vitamins, and supplements currently. There is a possibility that all these factors may affect the ANA test results.
What is the actual procedure for an Antinuclear Body Test? For the ANA test, the lab technician will draw a sample of blood from the patient, which is usually from a vein in the arm. For this, the technician will tie a band around the upper part of the arm so that the vein fills with blood and swell up. After that, the technician will rub and clean the area with an antiseptic and insert a needle into the vein. Then the drawn blood will be collected in a vial or tube.
This blood shouldn’t take more than two minutes. After that, once the blood is drawn, the technician will remove the needle and band, and the patient will get a piece of gauze and a bandage placed over the area.
The sample blood will be sent to the lab for testing. The laboratory people will then examine the sample to detect if it contains any antinuclear antibodies.
Are there any risks associated with an antinuclear body test?
There are no risks as such with an ANA test. It is a blood test, which has very few risks. The patient might feel a slight sting as the blood is drawn. It is also possible that they may notice a small bruise later, but nothing to worry about this.
However, there could be a very slim chance of the following, but very low intensity:
- Soreness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Bleeding
- Bruising, etc.
Interpretation of the antinuclear antibody test results
If the ANA test detects antinuclear antibodies in the patient’s blood sample, the result will be treated as positive, which is an indication of their presence. On the other hand, a negative result would mean that no such antibodies were found.
However, one should also remember that a positive test does not always mean that a patient has an autoimmune disease. It is because antinuclear antibodies can be present in 3-15% of people without any underlying conditions. There are also other factors such as certain medications or unrelated diseases, which can also contribute to the presence of these antibodies.
Hence, not all patients with autoimmune diseases will test positive for ANA. It means that the ANA blood test is just one aspect or component of the overall diagnostic process used by doctors to ascertain the presence of autoimmune diseases.
So, the doctors will also examine the symptoms, conduct a physical exam, and most probably will do other tests as well.
What are the conditions that generally trigger a positive ANA test?
The following conditions may be responsible for a positive ANA test in patients:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Sjögren's syndrome (dry eyes and mouth)
- Scleroderma (which is a connective tissue disorder)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (joint damage, pain, and swelling)
- Polymyositis (which is an illness causing muscle weakness)
- Mixed connective tissue disease (lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis)
- Juvenile chronic arthritis (arthritis mainly affecting children)
- Dermatomyositis (it is a rare disease causing weak muscles and rash)
- Polyarteritis nodosa (it is also a rare disorder causing the blood vessels to swell up and damage organs)
- Autoimmune hepatitis, etc.
There can be positive ANA test results if a patient has one of the following conditions:
- Raynaud's syndrome (a disease making the fingers and toes turn blue and feel cold)
- Thyroid diseases
- Liver diseases
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Lung diseases
- Cancer
- Viral infections, etc.
It is worth mentioning that close to 20% of the healthy population will have positive ANA test results despite not having an autoimmune disease.
A patient is more likely to have a false positive result if they:
- Women of age 65 or older.
- Have an infection like mononucleosis or tuberculosis
- Take medicines for blood pressure or anti-seizure drugs, etc.
Conclusion
So, we have seen that an ANA test can be a valuable diagnostic method to detect the presence of antinuclear antibodies in a patient's blood. The presence of antibodies can indicate the possibility of an autoimmune disease. It is also important to note that a positive result does not always mean an autoimmune condition in a patient while a negative result doesn't rule it out. Nevertheless, an ANA test can provide immense help in the overall diagnosis.
FAQs
What does a positive ANA IIF test mean?
When there is a positive result of an ANA test, it means that antinuclear antibodies are present in the blood of the patient. A positive result indicates that the patient has systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a different autoimmune disease, viral infection, and different health issues (causing antinuclear antibodies, such as cancer). When the ANA test results are positive, the doctor usually orders more tests to make a diagnosis.
What is the full form of ANA IIF?
The full form of ANA IIF is Antinuclear antibody detection by indirect immunofluorescence technique. ANA-IIF is a fantastic diagnostic tool for autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs), although it is non-specific.
Is ANA positive serious?
One should remember that a single positive ANA test result does not mean that a patient has an autoimmune disease. The person may not need any immediate treatment intervention. Moreover, the results of different labs also vary to a great extent. Even a few autoantibodies are normal, which is why a positive result may not indicate any issue.
What are the types of ANA?
The different types of ANA patterns are as follows: Nucleolar (N-ANA), Mitochondrial (M-ANA), Speckled (S-ANA), Cytoplasmic (C-ANA), Homogenous (H-ANA), Speckled + Cytoplasmic (SC-ANA), Homogenous + Nucleolar (HN-ANA), Centromere (Cen-ANA), and Homogenous + Mitochondrial (HM-ANA).
Is ANA curable?
Remember an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is not a confirmatory test. It may only assist in ascertaining the presence of an autoimmune disease. However, in general, autoimmune disease is mostly incurable.
Can ANA positive be intervened?
If the ANA test results are positive confirming a diagnosis of lupus, then drug treatments may help. Doctors will give pain relievers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, ibuprofen and naproxen. There are other medicines also that can help manage lupus symptoms. These medicines are hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, for reducing inflammation.
What is the best ANA test?
According to a statement on ANA testing methods by the American College of Rheumatology, IIF is regarded as the “gold standard for ANA testing.” It is mainly based on its high sensitivity (>95%) in diagnosing SLE.
Does ANA detect leukemia?
In the case of certain people diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the presence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) can be seen. But, the significance of ANAs as an indicator in CLL is presently not known. So, more research is needed to know the exact implications.
Can ANA levels decrease?
ANA titers may rise and fall throughout the disease. But, these increases and decreases may not necessarily correlate with disease activity.
