Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Test

Test Overview

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An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test measures the amount and pattern of antibodies, Opens dialog in your blood that work against your own body (autoimmune reaction).

The body's immune system, Opens dialog normally attacks and destroys foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. But in disorders known as autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks and destroys the body's normal tissues. When a person has an autoimmune disease, the immune system produces antibodies that attach to the body's own cells as though they were foreign substances, often causing them to be damaged or destroyed. Rheumatoid arthritis, Opens dialog and systemic lupus erythematosus, Opens dialog are examples of autoimmune diseases.

An ANA test is used along with your symptoms, physical examination, and other tests to find an autoimmune disease.

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Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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