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Antinuclear antibodies (ANA – HEP2) – laboratory test
  • Registered healthcare provider, RPWDL register no. 000000229528
  • Almost 700 locations within BadamySie.pl: blood collection, diagnostic tests and specialist consultations
  • We carry out tests and consultations ourselves and through subcontractors
  • Results online, no referral needed
  • Operating since 2020 as the continuation of Poland’s first online shop for medical tests (sklep.etermed.pl, since 2013)

99,00 zł

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Antinuclear antibody (ANA-HEP2) testing is an important test for diagnosing autoimmune diseases.

Category:

Description

Whereany blood collection point listed in the basket
Results turnaround timeup to 10 working days
Samplevenous blood (serum)
Preparationno fasting required; report any medicines you take (drug-induced lupus)

Why antinuclear antibodies are tested

ANA are antibodies directed against components of the cell nucleus. Testing by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells is a first-line screening test for systemic connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease and myositis; it also helps diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. The result reports the titre (the highest dilution at which fluorescence is visible) and the fluorescence pattern, which guides further testing.

When to consider this test

  • pain and swelling in multiple joints, especially the small joints of the hands, morning stiffness,
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon (fingers turning white and blue in the cold), sensitivity to sunlight, a butterfly-shaped facial rash,
  • dry eyes and mouth, recurrent inflammation of the salivary glands,
  • chronic fatigue, low-grade fever, weight loss, unexplained hair loss,
  • abnormal urine findings (protein, blood cells), thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, haemolytic anaemia,
  • suspected drug-induced lupus (hydralazine, procainamide, minocycline, anti-TNF medicines), recurrent miscarriages, unexplained raised liver test results.

How to prepare

  • You do not need to fast; avoid a large meal just before blood collection.
  • Give your doctor a list of your medicines and details of any recent infections; these may cause a temporarily positive result.
  • Do not have the test “just in case” if you have no symptoms: a positive result in a healthy person leads to unnecessary investigations.

How to interpret the result

Result What it usually means
negative (below 1:80 or 1:100, depending on the laboratory) systemic connective tissue disease is unlikely; if symptoms are pronounced, your doctor will continue investigations
1:80–1:100 low, borderline titre; found in a few per cent of healthy people, more often in older people and women; without symptoms, the test is usually repeated after a few months
1:160 and above clinically significant; requires additional tests (anti-dsDNA, ENA panel, complement C3/C4) and a consultation with a rheumatologist
1:640 and above high likelihood of autoimmune disease; urgent consultation

Fluorescence patterns: homogeneous (lupus, drug-induced lupus), fine or coarse speckled (Sjögren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, lupus), nucleolar (systemic sclerosis, myositis), centromere (limited systemic sclerosis; this result does not require confirmation with an ENA panel). A positive result is a signal for further testing, not a diagnosis; a negative result does not rule out disease.

Other tests to consider

After a positive ANA result: anti-dsDNA, ENA panel, complement C3 and C4; initial tests include full blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, creatinine, urinalysis. For joint pain, a more convenient option is the rheumatology test package. More information: Badania-Medyczne.pl.

Frequently asked questions

My ANA titre is 1:160. Does this mean I have lupus?

No. A titre of 1:160 is clinically significant, but ANA can also be positive in other connective tissue diseases, liver and thyroid diseases, following infections and as a result of medicines, and at low titres in a few per cent of healthy people. Diagnosis requires symptoms and additional tests (anti-dsDNA, ENA panel), which are requested by a rheumatologist.

What does the fluorescence pattern on my result mean?

The fluorescence pattern (homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar, centromere and others) indicates which structures in the nucleus the antibodies target and helps guide further testing. For example, the centromere pattern is characteristic of limited systemic sclerosis, while the homogeneous pattern is common in lupus.

Does a negative ANA result rule out autoimmune disease?

Not entirely. ANA testing is highly sensitive for lupus, but results are negative in many other diseases (e.g. vasculitis, ankylosing spondylitis, some forms of myositis). If symptoms are pronounced, your doctor will continue investigations.

Sources: ALAB laboratoria, Antinuclear antibodies ANA, IIFT method, titre (thresholds 1:160, fluorescence patterns, approx. 5% of healthy people with a low titre, turnaround time 10 days); Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Antinuclear Antibodies, HEp-2 Substrate, IgG, Serum (threshold <1:80, need for confirmation with ENA tests, centromere pattern, a negative result does not rule out disease). This information does not replace a medical consultation.

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Where you can have this test

You choose the collection point when you order. Addresses, opening hours and preparation tips are in our city guide:

How to prepare for a blood test (fasting, medication, exercise)

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