Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
ANA test · antinuclear antibodies · ANA screen · autoimmune blood test
This is a blood test from a vein. It looks for antibodies that the immune system sometimes makes against your own cells.
For a possible autoimmune disease: joint pain, a rash, or a long-lasting fever with no clear cause.
⏱ Duration: the blood draw takes a few minutes; results usually come in a few days, sometimes up to a week
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Food. Best in the morning before eating, or a few hours after a light meal. Check with the lab.
- The day before. For 24 hours, no alcohol and no hard workouts. Best not to smoke in the morning.
- Medicines. Do not stop them on your own. Tell your doctor what you take. They will decide if anything should change.
What to bring
- Your test request form
- Your ID
- Past test results, if you have them
How it goes
- You sit down and rest your arm on the armrest
- A band is tightened above your elbow
- The skin is wiped with antiseptic
- A quick prick, and blood fills a tube
- The needle comes out, and a cotton pad is pressed on the spot
What you'll feel
- A quick prick, like a pinch
- Sometimes slight dizziness. Tell the nurse
Afterwards
- Press the cotton pad for 3 to 5 minutes and keep your arm straight
- You can eat right away and go back to your usual day
- The result is often given as a titer and a pattern. Your doctor will explain it
- Results usually come in a few days. The lab will tell you when
Common questions
Does a positive ANA mean I have a disease?
No. A low titer can be found in healthy people. Your symptoms and other tests matter.