ANA Screening by IFA
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Antinuclear antibody test screens for autoimmune diseases such as lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome.
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🧪 ANA Screening by IFA (Antinuclear Antibodies – Indirect Immunofluorescence)
Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
Full Name | Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) – Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) |
Sample Type | Blood (serum) |
Fasting Required? | ❌ No fasting required |
Method | Indirect Immunofluorescence using HEp-2 cells (gold standard) |
Result Format | Titer (e.g., 1:80, 1:160) and Pattern (e.g., homogeneous, speckled) |
🔬 What Are Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)?
ANAs are autoantibodies that target structures within the nucleus of cells. The presence of ANA indicates that the immune system is reacting against the body’s own cells — a hallmark of autoimmune diseases.
🧠 Organs/Systems Involved
- Joints
- Skin
- Kidneys
- Lungs
- Nervous system
ANA is not organ-specific — it indicates systemic autoimmunity.
🎯 What Is the Test Used For?
Primarily used to screen for autoimmune connective tissue diseases, especially:
Disease | Comments |
|---|---|
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) | Most common reason for ANA testing (positive in ~95–98%) |
Sjogren’s Syndrome | Dry eyes and mouth; ANA may be positive with speckled pattern |
Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis) | Often shows nucleolar or centromere patterns |
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) | Mixed features of lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis |
Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis | May show positive ANA with cytoplasmic patterns |
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | May show low-positive ANA in some cases |
📊 Interpretation of Results
Titer | Meaning | ||
|---|---|---|---|
<1:40 | Negative (normal) | ||
1:40 – 1:80 | Low-positive; often found in healthy individuals | ||
≥1:160 | Suggestive of autoimmune activity (needs correlation) | ||
Pattern | Associated Diseases | ||
Homogeneous | SLE, drug-induced lupus | ||
Speckled | Sjogren's, MCTD, SLE | ||
Nucleolar | Systemic sclerosis | ||
Centromere | Limited scleroderma (CREST syndrome) | ||
Cytoplasmic | May indicate myositis or anti-synthetase syndromes | ||
Note: ANA can be positive in healthy individuals, especially older adults and women.
🔗 Recommended Follow-up Tests (if ANA is positive)
Test | Purpose |
|---|---|
Anti-dsDNA | Specific for SLE |
Anti-Sm (Smith) | Highly specific for SLE |
Anti-SSA (Ro) / SSB (La) | For Sjogren's, neonatal lupus |
Anti-RNP | Suggests MCTD |
Anti-Scl-70 (Topoisomerase) | Systemic sclerosis (diffuse) |
Anti-centromere antibody | CREST syndrome (limited scleroderma) |
ENA Panel | Extended profile of extractable nuclear antigens |
📍 Clinical Symptoms That May Prompt ANA Testing
- Chronic fatigue
- Butterfly-shaped rash on face
- Joint pain and swelling
- Photosensitivity
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (white-blue-red fingers in cold)
- Dry eyes/mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Unexplained fever or weight loss
✅ Summary Table
Test Name | ANA Screening by IFA |
|---|---|
Purpose | Screen for autoimmune disorders |
Method | Indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells |
Result | Titer + pattern |
Follow-up if Positive | dsDNA, ENA panel, disease-specific antibody tests |
Commonly Linked Diseases | SLE, Sjogren’s, scleroderma, MCTD, polymyositis |
How our test process works!
