Antibody Tests

[forest]

I am curious if anyone has had a positive SSA or SSB test without having a positive ANA test. Is this possible?

Thanks
forest

[Babs659]

I think the SSA and SSB test for a specific type of antinuclear antibody, so, no, I don't it's possible for the ANA to be negative if one has SSA and SSB.

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Forest!

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I don't think so....hopefully if I am wrong someone will come along with the correct information. 

I do know many doctors will first run the ANA and then if that is positive, the lab will move on to testing the SSA and SSB antibodies.

[Shilo]

My first blood test tested positive for SSA antibodies but not for ANA, RF Sed Rate, nothing.  But lip biopsy was positive.

[forest]

I guess I am a bit impatient and want all of the tests done at once, and without any rocks left unturned
Shilo, that is good information to know, thank you. I am a bit concerned that my internist will try and rule out Sjogren's based on these tests.
I will be surprised if all of my tests come back negative, but if they do, then I'll have to ask for the SSA/SSB and/or biopsy I guess.

Thanks again for the replies!

forest

[jenkay]

When my ssa is positive my ana is positive, mine actually use to come back with the same numbers, ana 425, ssa 425, which I never really understood.  Now the lab is doing the results differently and ana just show positive and ssa gets a number.  I don't really get it.

[Epson]

I didn't know you could have an ANA of 425, I thought that the titers were 40, 80, 160, 320, 640, 1280 always doubling.

[jenkay]

With my GP they use to come back like that but I think they have different ways of reading them.  I truely don't understand it, my rheumy would show me the reports but I didn't question it too much because she is really good.  I've had ana numbers all over the place but the lab recently changed the way the send the results back and now it just shows ANA positive or negative or something for inbetween and the ssa went from a number like 425 to a number like 3.9 which is still highly positive.  My doc said she wishes they would just stick with one thing because it gets hard to compare them.

[TerriJ]

My ANA was positive with no number indicated.  My SSA was 400 something.

Each lab seems to have a different way of presenting results.  It can be really confusing.

Terri

[forest]

I believe that I saw another thread recently that mentioned diluted and non-diluted tests. I'll have to look back through the forums and see if I can find it. I have to run now though to get my ANA test done. 

Scott

[Linda196]

There are two types of ANA test, quantitative (gives an actual count of antibodies) and qualitative (gives the dilution at which the antibodies remain evident, or a titre).

It is actually possible to have a negative ANA and positive SSA or SSB, if the results are quantitative, because the ANA would reflect a total of any or all antibodies, allowing for a number that wouldn't be diagnostic. If there are no other antibodies, and the number of SSA and/or SSB, although elevated, doesn't exceed the allowable total for the ANA, then the ANA would report as normal.

[jenkay]

That makes sense, very helpful!

[dbab]

I know I have read something similar to this in Dr. Daniel Wallace's "The Lupus Book" but it really pertained to lupus.  There is something called ANA negative lupus which is very RARE.  Usually when a doctor still highly suspects lupus and the ANA is negative, then they will test for SSA or anti-cardiolipin antibodies which can be positive in these cases.  I'm not sure though where this would or if it would pertain to Sjogren's though.

[forest]

Thanks for the info! I'll keep this in mind when I get my results in the next few days.

forest