Blood results don't understand

[artyone]

hi all have been sent b results I have no idea what it means can anyone help.

ANA -400, pattern nucleolar.

DsDNA<17,negative.

I have no idea and can't seem to find online ,what 400 means . Any help would be good thanks

[helixhelix]

If you look at labtestsonline.org.uk and put ANA in the box for tests you want to know about it will show you the info on ANA (antinuclear antibodies) and the DsDNA tests. Basically both are done to help docs get to a diagnosis, and are particularly used if Lupus is suspected.

Or look at this article which also talks about the nucleoplasm pattern.

Polly

[helixhelix]

Whoops forgot the link!

arthritis.about.com/od/diag...

[artyone]

Thanks for this I have looked. Nothing mentions titre 400 all 1/130 so I still don't nderstand. Thanks though. It's very frustrating when these results come in post and you don't see specialist till June

[earthwitch]

are you sure it wasn't 1:40 rather than 400? ANA is usually given as a ratio, so either 1:40, 1:80, 1:160 etc.

Anyway, it obviously showed positive to some degree, because they have described the pattern, which is nucleolar. There are several different patterns (homogenous, speckled, nucleolar, etc), and the pattern can give clues as to what other tests to do next to try and identify which rheumatic disorder you might have. the DS-DNA test is one that can point to lupus, but if it was negative, then thats probably been ruled out.

Next time you see the rheumatologist, ask them straight up what they are considering as a diagnosis for you, and what has been ruled out.

[artyone]

Thank you that. It does say 400 I can't understand that at all. Thanks