ANA (Hep-2 cells)
Sample: Serum 0.5 mL
Status: Accredited
Schedule: Daily (Immunofluorescence IFA)
Units: Titer
Range: Negative
Remarks: The detection of circulating antibodies to nuclear antigens is an important tool in the investigation of systemic rheumatic diseases. Many techniques have been developed to detect Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA), but the fluorescent ANA (Hep-2 cells IFA) test continues to be the most widely used and accepted. The ANA Hep-2 test has the advantages of sensitivity, reproducibility, and high reliability.
A wide range of nuclear antibodies are detected by this technique because most nuclear antigens are represented in carefully prepared tissue substrates. The ANA Hep-2 test of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases are not restricted by tissue specificity and will therefore bind to nuclear components from various species. Exceptions to this rule include sera that react specifically with human leukocyte nuclei and to Sjogrens syndrome antigen A (SS-A/Ro).
The major reason for ordering the ANA Hep-2 test is to confirm the clinical diagnosis of a systemic rheumatic disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A negative ANA Hep-2 test does not rule out the diagnosis of SLE, but alternative diagnoses should be considered. In addition, patients receiving a drug such as procainamide, phenytoin, or hydralazine should be tested if symptoms occur suggesting a diagnosis of drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
ANA Immunofluorescence Speckled Pattern
