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Anti Nuclear Antibodies (ANA) Test

Dr. AbhishtitaLast Updated on 27th January 2022

An ANA test is done to detect the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in your body. Antibodies are made by white blood cells. Antibodies recognize and combat infectious organisms (germs) in our bodies. When an antibody recognizes a foreign organism, it recruits other proteins to fight the infection. This reaction is called inflammation. Sometimes our body makes a mistake and identifies these naturally occurring proteins as foreign objects. When these antibodies make incorrect calls, like identifying a naturally-occurring protein (or self protein) as foreign, they are called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies start the cascade of inflammation, causing the body to attack itself. The presence of large amounts of autoantibodies or ANAs can indicate an autoimmune disease. ANA or antinuclear antibodies, as the name suggests, specifically target the contents of the nucleus in normal cells. ANA test is done when an autoimmune disorder is suspected.

What are the symptoms associated with ANA Test?What is the ANA test used for?What is included in the ANA test?Procedure for ANA test How to prepare for the ANA test?Things to consider after the ANA test is complete What types of conditions can the ANA test detect?How much does the ANA test cost?*

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What are the symptoms associated with ANA Test?

The symptoms related to the presence of ANA or autoimmune disorders include the following:

Recurring or persistent fever
Butterfly rash over cheeks and bridge of the nose
Joint pains or swelling
Severe Dry eyes or dryness in the mouth
Fatigue or tiredness
Numbness or tingling sensation in hands or feet
Hair loss
Sensitivity to light

You may experience other symptoms as well, depending on the organ involved.

The doctor suggests taking an ANA test to aid in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma, etc. An autoimmune disorder might result in serious health problems if not detected at the right time.

What is the ANA test used for?

An ANA test is used to help diagnose autoimmune disorders, including:

Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Sjogren’s syndrome
Scleroderma
Mixed connective Tissues Disorder
Drug-Induced Lupus
Autoimmune Hepatitis

These are just a few conditions in which ANA levels will be found to be elevated.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints of the feet, hands which results in swelling and pain. SLE could affect the brain, heart, skin, lungs, joints, kidneys. It is chronic, and the symptoms vary from person to person. Sjogren’s syndrome affects the eyes and mouth and makes it dry. Scleroderma mostly affects women in the age group of 30 to 50. It affects joints and skin. Taking the medications as advised by your doctor, changing the lifestyle, and maintaining a healthy diet can help in controlling the symptoms.

What is included in the ANA test?

The ANA test confirms whether there is an antinuclear antibody present in the body or not. The doctor may advise you to take another specific test for confirmation based on your symptoms and ANA test results. This test includes just the anti-nuclear antibody test.

Other names of this test include the antinuclear antibody(ANA) panel, fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA).

Procedure for ANA test

A lab technician will come to your home to collect the blood sample when you book this test through the MFine app. The lab technician will collect the sample at the scheduled time. The sample is then sent to our accredited labs of your choice (made during the booking) for further processing. If your blood sample is taken only for the ANA test, there is no restriction on eating and drinking before giving a sample. If a specific test also has to be taken, please consult your doctor about the instructions.

Book an ANA lab test to check your antibody level!

How to prepare for the ANA test?

Inform the doctor about your medications before taking the test.

There are no special precautions needed for this test. A lab technician will come to your home to collect the blood sample when you book for a test through the MFine app. He will collect the sample at the time you schedule the test.

Both men and women of all age categories can get this test done.

Lab analysis of ANA blood tests is done like this

For checking the blood sample for ANA:

The sample will be incubated in cells with large nuclei.
It will be made easy to identify by making the autoantibodies glow.
A specialized microscope is used to see the fluorescence generated.
The intensity and the fluorescence pattern will be analyzed.

The difference in intensity and patterns will be elaborated in the test results. Your doctor will interpret the results and diagnose which type of autoimmune disorder you may have.

Things to consider after the ANA test is complete

The sample is sent to our accredited labs of your choice (made during the booking) for further processing. You can return to your work after giving the sample. There are no serious side effects of performing the ANA test. But the person may feel pain, bruising on the place where the needle was injected, and dizziness for a few hours.

What types of conditions can the ANA test detect?

This test helps measure the levels of antinuclear antibodies(ANA) in the blood. These types of antibodies are generally associated with autoimmune disorders. Many autoimmune disorders can have common symptoms and signs — fatigue, joint pain, and fever, etc. While an ANA test can’t confirm a specific diagnosis, it can give an idea of which disease/disorder it could be related to. If the ANA test is positive, you may have to get tested additionally to look for specific autoimmune disease-related ANAs.

How much does the ANA test cost?*

The cost of the ANA test varies based on the lab partner you use, time of the day, location.

The test cost varies between 100 to 7000 Rs.

City	The average cost of the test (Rs.)
Pune	200 – 5500
Pondicherry	400 – 5800
Trivandrum	350 – 650
Delhi	150 – 7000
Kolkata	200 – 3500
Bangalore	300 – 5000

*Disclaimer: The value varies based on location, time, and your preferred lab partner.

How long does it take to get the results for the ANA test?

The sample is sent to our accredited labs of your choice (made during the booking) for further processing. You can expect to get the results for the ANA test within 24 to 48 hours after the sample is collected. However, in some instances, depending on the location and preferred lab partner, it may take longer.

What do abnormal ANA test results indicate?

Increased ANA values may indicate the presence of the following diseases-

ANA is positive for the autoimmune diseases like

1) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE)

2) Scleroderma

3) Rheumatoid arthritis

4) Sjogren’s syndrome

5) Mixed connective tissue disorder

ANA can be positive in other autoimmune disorders as well. ANA levels can be elevated even if you have no disease. In fact, up to 15% of the population may have elevated ANA levels but have no symptoms or disease states. ANA levels may be elevated in certain thyroid disorders, liver-related conditions, certain infections, malignancy, some medications, etc.

However, it is suggested to always consult with your doctor to interpret the test reports.

If your ANA test results are positive, your doctor may advise more tests based on the symptoms you have. If you have questions about your results, it is better to consult your healthcare provider.

Disclaimer: Please consult with your doctor to interpret the test reports.

Is the ANA test a definitive test?

No. The ANA test cannot be considered a definitive test. There can be false-negative results of about 5%. Few patients may test negative in the early stages and later turn out to have positive test results. The ANA test can determine whether you are affected by an autoimmune disorder, but it cannot conclude specifically which one of the autoimmune diseases you are suffering from.

In case your ANA test is positive, your doctor may suggest further testing that is specific to certain diseases:

An anti-centromere test.
An anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) test
An anti-histone test
An ENA panel

How to read the ANA test report?

A positive ANA test may indicate that you have an autoimmune disease. But some healthy and normal people also have positive ANA tests. Thus the presence of ANAs can’t confirm it is due to autoimmune disorder. Some healthy people have positive ANA tests, especially women older than 65.

ANA is positive for autoimmune diseases, as mentioned earlier, and in other non-autoimmune diseases like thyroid disorders, liver-related conditions, malignancy, certain medications, and disease due to viral infections.

The ANA test result can sometimes also be positive if you have one of these conditions:

Raynaud’s syndrome
Thyroid diseases — Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease
Liver diseases — autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Lung diseases — idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Cancer
Viral infections

If your doctor suspects you have an autoimmune disease, you will be advised to take further tests. The result of your ANA test is not a confirmatory test. But, it can help your doctor determine the cause of your signs and symptoms.

Book an ANA test to check your anti-antibodies level!

Why book the ANA test?

Your doctor may suggest you take this test to detect autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

Your health care provider may order an ANA test if you have symptoms of lupus or another autoimmune disorder. These symptoms include:

Fever
Red, butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose (a symptom of lupus)
Fatigue
Joint pain and swelling
Muscle pain

ANA test at home – how does it work?

The ANA test is just like any other blood test. A lab technician visits your home when you book your tests through the MFine app. The lab technician first cleans the arm and then inserts a needle into a vein. The required amount of blood is then taken into a vacutainer. The lab technician then removes the needle and places cotton wool or a bandage over the prick.

Are there any risks involved with the ANA test?

There is no risk in having this blood test. You may have slight pain or bruise at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. You may also rarely face the following:

Bleeding at the point of needle injection
Soreness
Bruising
Fainting
Tiredness

What can affect the results of the ANA test?

The ANA test can sometimes give a false-negative result. A person may have lupus, but it could be detected as negative, especially when the disease is in the early stage.

The ANA test result can sometimes also be positive if you have one of these conditions:

Raynaud’s syndrome
Thyroid diseases — Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease
Liver diseases — autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Lung diseases — idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Cancer
Viral infections

You’re more likely to have a false-positive result if you:

Are a woman age 65 or older
Have a chronic infection such as tuberculosis
Certain medications like procainamide, isoniazid, minocycline, quinidine, hydralazine, methyldopa, chlorpromazine, etc.

Book an ANA test to check your antibodies level!

Our Trusted Lab Partners for Anti Nuclear Antibodies Test

MFine Diagnostics

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₹700

Wellness Pathcare

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₹700

Thyrocare

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₹700

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Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs

Is the lab technician coming for ANA test sample collection vaccinated?

Yes. Our lab technicians are fully vaccinated. Further, they also ensure safety throughout by wearing a mask, gloves and frequently sanitizing themselves during the sample collection.

Does MFine provide the interpretation for the results along with the reports?

Yes, MFine provides the interpretation for the result along with the reports. You can also avail yourself of a free medical consultation with a doctor to understand your reports accurately. The doctor will also advise and prescribe medicines, if required, based on the results.

How can I download my ANA test report?

Login to MFine
Go to your profile
Click on Attachment and Reports
Click on Lab Report
Download the report

Are there any discount offers running on the ANA test?

Usually, you can avail of up to a 50% discount on the ANA test through MFine. However, the discount and test price may vary based on lab partner and location.

What are some common symptoms associated with autoimmune disorders?

Some common symptoms associated with autoimmune disorders include- skin rash, especially over cheeks and nose, joint pain, joint swelling, fever, fatigue, weight loss, photosensitivity, etc.

Which viral infections cause positive ANA tests?

Certain viral infections can cause positive ANA test results such as coxsackievirus, rotavirus, influenza A, etc.

What are the symptoms of lupus?

Fatigue: Lupus often causes extreme tiredness and a loss of energy.

Pain in the feet or hands: This results from joint inflammation, and it is often worse in the morning. Lupus can also cause muscle pain and fever.

Skin rash: The Butterfly rash and red patches over cheeks and nose that are characteristic of lupus.

You may have other symptoms and signs as well, like long-standing fever, blood abnormalities, kidney abnormalities, etc.

What are the treatments available if we get positive results on the ANA test?

Treatment options are based on the underlying disease that results in the formation of ANA.

Medications that can help manage lupus symptoms include:

Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine (anti-inflammatory)
Corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory)
Rituximab or belimumab, more powerful treatments that inhibit immune cells if anti-inflammatory medications do not have the desired effect

What diseases cause positive ANA?

Systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type of lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome.

What are the four types of lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) (most common), Discoid Lupus, Cutaneous lupus (restricted to the skin), drug-induced lupus (a lupus-like condition caused by certain drugs), and neonatal lupus ( a very rare condition where newborn acquires antibodies from mother with SLE).

Disclaimer: The content is uniquely informative and is meant for educational use. Kindly use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified or registered healthcare provider.