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ANA, Screen
MessagePerforming Lab: Central Lab
Test Code
0228
Alias/See Also
Sunquest: ANA; Antinuclear Antibodies, FANA (Flourescent Antinuclear Antibody)
CPT Codes
86038
Preferred Specimen
2.0 mL Serum Separator (gold-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Red, Red/Gray
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Refrigerated: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross Hemolysis or Lipemia may produce inconsistent results.
Anticoagulants or preservatives are not recommended.
Anticoagulants or preservatives are not recommended.
Methodology
Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Microscopy (IFA)
Setup Schedule
Monday - Friday, run is set-up once daily at 07:00 am.
Report Available
Within 2-3 days of collection.
Limitations
Clinically significant Positive ANA results (≥1:160 titer) are followed up with an ANA Quantitative Titer and Pattern (Test code ANAT / Epic code 0229)
ANA testing on body fluids is no longer performed at HealthPartners Central Laboratory. It is recommended to send body fluids for ANA testing to Rheumatology Diagnostics Laboratory for analysis using RDL lab test code # 205.
- Call Regions Send-out department or Health Specialty Center Laboratories to obtain a requisition for Rheumatology Diagnostics Laboratories.
- Forward the specimen (and completed requisition) to Regions or HSC. Regions or HSC will send to RDL with a special courier.
ANA testing on body fluids is no longer performed at HealthPartners Central Laboratory. It is recommended to send body fluids for ANA testing to Rheumatology Diagnostics Laboratory for analysis using RDL lab test code # 205.
- Call Regions Send-out department or Health Specialty Center Laboratories to obtain a requisition for Rheumatology Diagnostics Laboratories.
- Forward the specimen (and completed requisition) to Regions or HSC. Regions or HSC will send to RDL with a special courier.
Reference Range
Serum: Negative (< 1:160)
Clinical Significance
Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) occur in patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases, both systemic and organ-specific. They are particularly common in the systemic rheumatic diseases, which include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus erythematosus (LE), drug-induced LE, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia), rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis.
Some patients without clinical evidence of an autoimmune disease may have a detectable level of ANA. This finding is more common in women than men, and increases in likelihood if > 40 years of age. ANA may also be detectable following viral illnesses, in chronic infections, or in patients treated with many different medications. There are several different patterns of nuclear and cytoplasmic immunofluorescence. ANA patterns and titers may or may not always correlate with the presence of specific antibodies.
Some patients without clinical evidence of an autoimmune disease may have a detectable level of ANA. This finding is more common in women than men, and increases in likelihood if > 40 years of age. ANA may also be detectable following viral illnesses, in chronic infections, or in patients treated with many different medications. There are several different patterns of nuclear and cytoplasmic immunofluorescence. ANA patterns and titers may or may not always correlate with the presence of specific antibodies.
