What is an ANA test?

[shond2015]

can someone advise me what an ANA test is please? I am currently laid up on the sofa as having a bad day today....so reading through all posts and have come across this in a recent thread. I would be grateful if someone would explain. Many thanks.

[Justiina]

I had S-Ana tested and I understood it's testing all systemic autoimmune diseases, if s-ana comes back positive then more tests are run to identify the disease.

[shond2015]

Thanks Justina for taking the time to read and explain.....

[Kiwidel]

Hi, this isn't my work - I found it in another post ages ago...

The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is widely used as a serological marker of autoimmune disease. Antinuclear antibodies are immunoglobulins or antibodies that bind to one or more antigens expressed within the nucleus of human cells. Used selectively, the ANA test can be a useful laboratory tool to help confirm or exclude the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic disease. However, the relatively high prevalence of ANAs in other inflammatory conditions, as well as healthy individuals, can make a positive result difficult to interpret.

I have tested +ve three time and -ve once - 3 years latter (and lots more tests) and the doctors still have no idea why. I have also tested +ve for hashi's so I think it's related (those with medical degrees disagree). It's apparently a very non-specific test. Hope this helps ...

[shond2015 in reply to Kiwidel]

Thank you very much.....interesting to read - even though it's all a little bit daunting. I really appreciate your time. Many thanks. ShonD2015