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.
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Reviewed by J. Carr on December 03, 2025
