Lab Tests Online (to help interpret lab results)

[lynnmarie219]

I use this site a lot to help interpret lab results and have found it very helpful!

http://labtestsonline.org/

[jujubeee714]

Lynnmarie, do you know where I can find information on interpreting the DIRECT ANA test and Panel?  I had labs done to measure the ANA's directly since my titer test ran 1/12,960.  My rheumatologist told me the Direct ANA would be needed and it measured 8 different ANA's, each result giving the rheumie an explanation of in what direction my ai condition was going.  (ex:Sjogrens, SLE, Scleroderma, MCTD, Lupus Nephritis, etc.)   

I am sure you know this.  Thanks!

[Linda196]

The ANA-D is being promoted as a more accurate method of measuring antibodies, because it provides a direct measurement of the various antibodies relevant to ANA testing. That means it actually gives a count of the antibodies rather than showing how much the specimen can be diluted and still show the antibodies as being present. Medically it's referred to as a "quantitative" test as opposed to a "qualitative" ANA.

The theory is that the presence of any antibody will reflect in changes in the ANA, but the specific antibodies for a particular disease must be identified and counted in the ANA-D

The only range I can find is from a commercial paper produced by Labcorp, basically an advertisement for their "new" and apparently exclusive technology. It gives this range: <100negative; 100-120- equivocal; >120 positive.

Another method of breaking down the ANA to show specific "leanings" toward a particular disease is the ENA (extractable nuclear antigen) which will show 6-8 subsets of antibodies, like the SS-A and SS-B to which we refer often here, the dsANA which is used in diagnosing Lupus, and SCL70 which is more specific to scleroderma, among others. Most labs give reference ranges for ENA as a simple positive or negative: <1 is negative, >/=1 is positive.

[lynnmarie219]

Thanks Linda for all of that great information! I still learn new things here every day!