An ANA test is a blood test used to help determine whether someone has an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Learn about the procedure, its risks, and what the results mean.

There is no single diagnostic test for systemic lupus. The test you will hear most about is called the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. However, this is not a specific test for lupus. Most people with ...

A positive ANA test can suggest an autoimmune condition. However, the result of an ANA test alone is not sufficient to diagnose an illness. Autoimmune disorders are not the sole reason for joint pain.

They’ll also consider your symptoms, do a physical exam, and most likely do other tests. Conditions that usually cause a positive ANA test include: Systemic lupus erythematosus; ...

Stress isn’t usually the direct cause of a positive ANA test, but it can influence the immune system, potentially exacerbating symptoms in those with autoimmune disorders. If you have symptoms ...

Consistently positive antinuclear antibody tests at 12 months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection may predict long-term symptoms and inflammation, according to data published in the European ...

While your ANA test can be positive if you have MS, it’s used more to rule out lupus as a cause of your symptoms, not to help diagnose MS. MS and lupus are similar in other ways too: Both MS and ...

However, studies have shown that a “false-positive” ANA test occurs in up to 13% of healthy individuals. ... but did not develop any symptoms of autoimmune rheumatic disease.

At the end of a 4-year follow-up period, 72.5% of the ANA-positive individuals with the "healthy" pattern were still ANA-positive, but without any symptoms of autoimmune rheumatic disease.