Test Overview
An antinuclear
antibody (ANA) test measures the amount and pattern of
in your blood that work against your own
body (autoimmune reaction).
The body's
normally attacks and destroys foreign
substances such as bacteria and viruses. But in disorders known as
, the immune system attacks and
destroys the body's normal tissues. When a person has an autoimmune disease,
the produces antibodies that attach to the
body's own cells as though they were foreign substances, often causing them to
be damaged or destroyed.
and
are examples of
autoimmune diseases.
An ANA test is used along with your symptoms,
physical examination, and other tests to find an autoimmune disease.