ANA Blot 17 Antigen Test - Serum

• ANA Blot 17 antigens, serum is used to aid diagnosis of autoimmune disorders. Many auto immune disorder have common signs and symptoms — joint pain, fatigue and fever, some have renal, muscular, eye, gland and dermatological involvement.
• Once a screening test like ANA IFA or ELISA is positive ANA blot tests are recommended for further confirmation and more specific diagnosis. Depending on the autoantibodies present against the specific antigen, the type of autoimmune disorder can be diagnosed by clinical correlation.

The blood test measures the presence of autoantibodies against 17 antigens nRNP/Sm, Sm, SS-A, Ro-52, SS-B, Scl-70, PM-Scl, Jo-1, CENP B, PCNA, dsDNA, Nucleosomes, Histones, rib. P-Prot., AMA-M2.

The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

• ANA positive result: Indicates type of autoantibody related disease. ANA test is positive in the following autoimmune conditions: systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus , systemic sclerosis, CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
• ANA negative results does not completely rule out autoimmune diseases. A positive result doesn't necessarily indicate an autoimmune disease, many women older than 6, some infectious diseases, cancers, certain drugs have been associated with antinuclear antibodies.