Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Ab (ANCA)

Tube Type

Test ID

LAB458

EPIC Order

Anti-neutrophilic Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)

CPT Code(s)

88347, 83516x2

Group/Individual Test

Group

Laboratory

Clinical Immunology

Tube Station

30

Specimen

Routine:

3 mL blood/Gold SST tube

Availability

Routine:

3 times per week (Mon, Wed, Fri)

STAT:

Stat requests require Immunology Director approval and a Nephrology consult.

Turnaround Time

1-7 Days

Reference Range

Normal:

negative

Comments

All specimens submitted for ANCA testing are assessed for IgG ANCA antibodies by immunofluorescence assay (IFA; NOVA Lite^TM ANCA IFA) using ethanol-fixed neutrophils, formalin-fixed neutrophil slides, and ELISA using purified MPO (INOVA QUANTA Lite^TM MPO) and PR3 (INOVA QUANTA
Lite^TM PR3) proteins.
ANCA IFA results are reported as Negative, Positive (along with the corresponding fluorescence pattern detected: perinuclear P ANCA, cytoplasmic C-ANCA, atypical ANCA) or Indeterminate. ANA positive samples may cause a P-ANCA staining pattern, because ethanol-fixed human neutrophils are known to contain multiple primary granule antigens such as elastase, lactoferrin, capthepsin G, cationic protein 57 and possibly other yet unidentified neutrophil antigens, samples appearing as cANCA or pANCA positive may not always test positive for specific PR3 or MPO antibodies by ELISA.
Results of the MPO and PR3 ELISA tests are reported in arbitrary units with the following interpretations:

STAT ANCA testing is available (only with Nephrology consult) using the MPO and PR3 ELISA assays only.

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 04, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514