Anti-Nuclear Ab (ANA)

Tube Type

Test ID		LAB147
EPIC Order		ANTI-NUCLEAR ANTIBODY (ANA)
CPT Code(s)		86039
Group/Individual Test		Group
Laboratory		Clinical Immunology
Tube Station		30
Specimen	Routine:	3 mL blood/gold SST tube
Availability	Routine:	daily
	STAT:	N/A
Turnaround Time		5 days
Reference Range	Normal:	Negative
Comments	Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are detected using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with the Hep2 cell line. Sera are screened for ANA at a starting titer of 1:80. If positive, sera are further tested at 2-fold dilutions to 1:640. Results are reported as positive if specific fluorescence is detected. The report also includes a description of the fluorescence pattern detected and the titer. Samples with a positive result at the 1:640 dilution are reported as >/=1:640. Patterns reported include those defined in the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP, Frontiers in Immunology. 2015; 6:412) A low titer ANA identified in a patient without symptoms consistent with an autoimmune disease is unlikely to be clinically significant. Additional testing or repeat ANA tests are not useful in this setting as only 4% of patients with a positive ANA will develop an autoimmune disease. We suggest reviewing symptoms of autoimmune disease (e.g., lupus) in patients with a positive ANA prior to further evaluation.

Reviewed by J. Carr on December 03, 2025

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