QUESTIONS ON LABS

I RECENTLY HAD AN ANA TEST  DONE. I TESTED POSITIVE FOR ANA, BUT MY TITER WAS IN THE NORMAL # OF 1:40. HOW CAN THIS BE normal, IF HAVING THESE ANTIBODIES IS CONSIDERED NOT NORMAL.  R RHEUMATIC DISEASES MOSTLY SEEN IN HIGHER TITERS. I READ ON THE NET, THAT JUST HAVING THESE ANTIBODIES= an autoimune disease.  could u  please elaborate on this.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It is a known fact that ANA can occur in the healthy population in the absence of any disease.  I do not know why this is.  In one study of normal individuals, an ANA titer of 1:40 was found in 30 percent of the population.  It is becaue of this fact that the ANA test is not used for general screening.

I point to this study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9324014&query_hl=6

Thus, yes in most cases ANA is associated with a variety of disease - but there are a significant amount of cases where healthy individuals can have a mild elevation in ANA.

You can discuss this with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b