Please help me understand how the ANA Direct test compares to the old ANA testing.

[Joni686]

Please help me understand how the new ANA DIRECT TEST compares with the old ANA test the doctor has done in the past.  I have had an ANA of 1:1280 speckled for almost two years.  Today I got results back from a new ANA Direct Test and the numbers were all different.  The doctor didn't even really know how to explain it and so she took more blood to have it done the "old way".  The numbers on this test are not 1:1280 but rather are:

AU/ml     0-99
Neg.       120

Please someone tell me how this measures up to the old test.
Thanks,
Joni

[PlateletGal]

I've never heard of the blood test before. I may call one of my best friends this weekend (she's a medical technologist) and see what she says. If I have an answer for you, I'll let you know ASAP.

[Joni686]

Hey I spoke to a technician at LabCorp today and he said the ANA Direct is more acurate than the immunofloresant test.  The ranges are completly different and there is no way to compare the two tests.  According to him, and he works at Labcorp., the IMF test (that we are used to) will pick up any autoantibodies in the blood that could be from another source and create a false positive.  I still don't understand what other sources could produce autoantibodies and that really doesn't make sense to me.  I think this might be a test that only Labcorp. is doing ( not sure though) but when you google ANA Direct it goes to an article about it and it is from Labcorp.  I didn't understand the article though.  lol  Anyway, I told this guy that this test showed me negative for ANA and the IMF test shows me positive 1:1280 speckled.  He went on to defend it by saying it probably involved human error, like it wasn't my blood that actually got tested.  I told him I am still trying ot get over vasculits of my heart and I couldn't believe I was negative.  He just defended it again as probably human error.  My doctor is having it redone using the IMF method.
A friend of ine was recently told she is in remission after 10 years.  This is the test that was done on her.  She as been wondering why she still feels so lousey so I think we have the answer.  The test is not as accurate as they claim.  I hope people watch out for this new test.  It could cause a lot of problems.  Some of us have enough trouble convincing doctor and disability we are sick.  We don't need lousey blood tests to make it more difficult on us.
God Bless,
Joni

[PlateletGal]

"I hope people watch out for this new test.  It could cause a lot of problems.  Some of us have enough trouble convincing doctor and disability we are sick.  We don't need lousey blood tests to make it more difficult on us."

It certainly sounds like it. I'm considering starting a thread or journal on the politics of illness. I would discuss Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS, MCS, autism, Gulf War Syndrome and sexism in the medical field.  

[Joni686]

Sounds like a good discussion.  If I were younger and didn't have lupus (because I have to supress my immune system) I swear I would go back to school and become a Rheumatologist.  I would be so good to my clients and take care of them.  You think I'm too old and sick at 46 with Lupus to be able to do it if I can get into remission?  I really have such an interest and the need for good doctors is so great.
I wish I could but I am too old and sick. :(

[mercygracious]

Hey girls... what causes  ANA and Sed Rate to fluctuate?  Docs act like this means nothing and everyones ANA and Sed can fluctuate.  I don't believe this.  I know it means something.  Joni, how are you feeling these days?  Are you still choking?  I hope you are feeling better.  I went back to the doc the other day and he made me cry.  I just hate that.  They already act like they think you are crazy and then when you cry that just more or less reconfirms how they feel.  They make me so mad.  I let him know that I knew he was not concerned about me or what I was going through.  He would not even listen to the new symptoms I have had since seeing him last.  He just acted real nonchalant and unconcerned.  I finally talked him into taking an EMG which i am scheduled for on the 9th of March. I surely hope this yields some kind of results so that I can possibly move forward in achieving a dx.  I think my next step will be a biopsy if he will agree to it.  I asked him about it and he indicated it was dangerous and would be a last resort someone would take.  Well, I am very aware of that but I am also aware of the fact that they say that a biopsy is usually the only thing that will yield a definite dx of vasculitis.  I think this strong pulse I have is my blood vessels.  It feels like my heart beats real fast sometimes and I believe it has been attacking my brain and peripheral nerves for years and now is spreading.  I don't know if this is right or not but this is all I have been able to come up with.  When I read about vasculitis attacking the peripheral nerves it described my symptoms to a tee and when I read about how it attacks the brain it described my symptoms to a tee once again.  It is hard enough being sick but even harder when no one believes you or tries to understand you.  I was laid off from my job a year ago and still haven't found work and have no insurance.  I think doctor bills are going to be the end of me.  But, even though I look for a job every day of my life faithfully I still am grateful that I have been off during this time because I have been through so much I really haven't felt like working.  It is scary.  I feel like the only thing I need to be concentrating on is my health and trying to get to feeling better..... if that is possible.  Joni , are you on disability right now?  If so, for how long have you been on it?  Isn't it pretty much a given when you are dx'd with autoimmune that you automatically will be eligible or not?  I hope to talk to you soon.  Have a great evening!!  :)  Mercy