Significance of antinuclear antibody tests
The screening immunoassay for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) involves the microscopic demonstration of antibody binding to nuclear and other cellular elements in laboratory cell lines. Results are reported in 2 components:
- ANA titre—the quantity of ANA in the serum (expressed as a titre)
- ANA staining pattern of antibody binding (eg homogeneous or speckled).