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Updated: May 25, 2026

Anti-Nuclear Antibody Screening Using HEp-2 Cells
Published on: June 23, 2014
Using the antinuclear antibody test to diagnose rheumatic diseases: when does a positive test warrant further
Elizabeth R Volkmann1, Mihaela Taylor, Ami Ben-Artzi
1Division of Rheumatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1670, USA. evolkmann@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract:
The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test is ordered commonly as a screening test for rheumatic diseases. Although ANA positivity is highly sensitive for certain rheumatic diseases, the presence of ANA is nonspecific and can be associated with numerous nonrheumatic factors, including environmental exposures, malignancies, drugs, and infections. This article describes a practical approach for physicians when evaluating patients using a positive ANA test. In the absence of connective tissue disease symptoms, the ANA test has minimal clinical significance in diagnosing rheumatic diseases. Understanding how to use ANA test results appropriately may reduce unnecessary referrals and costly workups.
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