What does a negative ana test mean?

Answer 1

A positive ANA (anitnuclear antibody) test means that the person makes antibodies against the nucleus of their own cells. All cells live for a while and then die. When they die, they break down in the blood. The antinuclear antibodies think that the debris from the nucleus is a germ that shouldbe destroyed. This is not normal.

10 million Americans have a positive ANA. 1.5 million have lupus. 2-3 percent of people with lupus will have a negative ANA. The pattern that shows up under when the cells are treated with immunofluorescent dye is more important than the fact that the test is postive. Lupus will cause a speckeld pattern.

The ANA test is a titer. This means the number is how many times a sample of blood had to be diluted to come up with a sample that has no antinuclear antibodies in it. Typically the numbers will be 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 etc.

Many people have a positive ANA and don't have any active disease. The older a person gets, the more likely they are to test postive.

Answer 2

A positive ANA is not significant in itself. ANA stands for antibuclear antibodies. These are antibodies that one's immune system makes against the circulating nuclear debris of cells that have died. The older a person is, the more likely they are to have a positive ANA. Many people with a positive ANA have no active autoimmune disease. Different immunolfluorescent patterns in antinuclear antibodies help in making a diagnosis.

Answer 3

ANA stands for antinuclear antibodies. These are antibodies that your immune system makes that target the nuclear debris of cells that have died normally. 10 million Americans have a positive ANA. Many of them have no disease. But in others, autoimmune disease causes the body to produce antinuclear antibodies. There are over 100 autoimmune diseases.