I have received conflicting ANA results from two separate tests. One test was was an immunofluorescence assay and yielded a 1:160 positive ANA titer. Following the positive titer, my doctor ordered the autoimmune cascade. This second test (blood drawn only 2 days later) was done via enzyme immunoassay at a different lab. The result was a value of 0.2, indicating a negative ANA result and thus automatically stopping any further testing in the cascade. These are two very different test results. From what I have read in the literature, the two methods commonly yield similar results, so I am very confused as to why they are so different. However, I have also read that different laboratories can yield conflicting results (Abeles et al 2016). Upon seeing the second test result, my doctor immediately reversed her opinion and decided that I do not have a connective tissue disease.
I'm a 27 year old female, with several years of symptoms that line up with a connective tissue disease. I have joint pain that comes and goes (knees, ankles, lower back/sacroiliac area, elbows, wrists, hands; back pain in particular lasts for months with no relief during that time period), severe fatigue, skin rashes, and I get sick frequently & tend to stay sick for a long time. I literally cried when she told me the second test came back negative, because after years of searching and struggling with these symptoms I finally thought I had an answer. I still asked her to refer me to a rheumatologist, but she thinks that they are going to just show me the door out because my second test was negative. These symptoms are severely impacting my life, and all I want is an answer. I am at my wit's end.
Has anyone else had conflicting lab results for ANA? What did you and/or your doctor conclude? Thanks.