ANA panel

An ANA panel tests for antinuclear antibodies in the blood, which are proteins the immune system produces that mistakenly target the body's own cell nuclei. This test helps doctors identify or rule out autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma. A positive ANA means these antibodies are present, but it doesn't diagnose a specific disease alone. The result, along with symptoms and other tests, guides the clinician in diagnosing and managing autoimmune conditions. Essentially, it’s a useful screening tool to detect immune system activity against the body's own tissues.