ANTI-NUCLEAR ANTIBODY (ANA) ELISA

The Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) test is a common screening tool used to detect the presence of autoantibodies (immune proteins) that target components within the nucleus of a person's own cells. The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is one of the methods used to perform this test.

What the ANA Test Measures

• Target: The ANA test detects antibodies that mistakenly target components found in the cell's nucleus, including DNA, RNA, and various proteins.
• Autoimmunity: The presence of these autoantibodies is a hallmark of autoimmunity, where the immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissues.
• Non-Specific: The ANA test is highly sensitive (meaning it will be positive in most people with SLE, but it is non-specific (meaning a positive result can be found in many conditions or even in healthy people)