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ANA, Quant/Titer & Pattern
MessagePerforming Lab: Central Lab
Test Code
0229
Alias/See Also
Sunquest: ANAT; Antinuclear Antibody Titer & Pattern
CPT Codes
86039
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
Auto-ordered by Central Lab when ANA Screen is positive with a clinically significant titer of ≥1:160
A pattern of nuclear fluorescence is also reported. Current patterns reported include Homogenous, Speckled, Nucleolar, Centromere, and Nuclear Membrane.
A pattern of nuclear fluorescence is also reported. Current patterns reported include Homogenous, Speckled, Nucleolar, Centromere, and Nuclear Membrane.
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.
