What Is an ANA Blood Test?
ANA stands for Antinuclear Antibody. It screens for autoimmune conditions by detecting antibodies that attack your own cell nuclei.
Normal Result
- Negative (below 1:40 titer)
What a Positive ANA Means
- Suggests autoimmune disease but is NOT diagnostic alone
- Associated conditions: lupus (95%+ positive), scleroderma, Sjögren's, rheumatoid arthritis
- Many healthy people (especially women, elderly) test positive at low titers
Follow-Up for Positive ANA
- ENA panel (extractable nuclear antigens)
- Anti-dsDNA (specific for lupus)
- Clinical correlation with symptoms
Source: NLM MedlinePlus, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
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