ANA Levels Chart

What is an ANA Levels Chart?

An antinuclear antibody (ANA) Levels Chart is a medical resource that provides general reference values that healthcare professionals can use to interpret the titer level results of a patient's ANA blood test.

An antinuclear antibody test detects antibodies that attack the body's own healthy tissues, but it's not a sure indication of autoimmune disease (Carnago, 2023). This initial screening test, along with other laboratory tests, the patient's medical history, and physical examination, helps healthcare professionals diagnose autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome.

Our ANA Levels Chart includes ranges of ANA titers, which represent the concentration of these antibodies in the blood, as well as a brief interpretation for each level. However, it's important to note that interpretation for each ANA titer level varies from one laboratory to another.  Some laboratories may consider a titer level of 1:60 or higher a highly positive result, while others may have different reference values.

In ANA tests, these titers should also be interpreted along with ANA patterns, which are visualized under a microscope. These patterns may indicate the type of autoimmune disease present in the patient. Common ANA patterns include speckled, homogeneous, and nucleolar.

How does this template work?

Carepatron's ANA Levels Chart is a comprehensive and user-friendly PDF document that can be downloaded for free. You can use it as a handout when interpreting ANA test results. However, note that this template does not include references for ANA patterns. Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: Access the resource

Click "Use Template" to utilize the chart via the Carepatron app, allowing you to customize it for your needs. You can also choose "Download" for a PDF copy.

Step 2: Interpret ANA test results

Refer to the chart for the interpretation of titer levels as part of an ANA test. Note that the results and ANA level interpretations may vary depending on the laboratory and testing method used.

Step 3: Use in conjunction with the patient's symptoms and medical history

Use the ANA Levels Chart as a guide in evaluating the significance of ANA laboratory test results in relation to the patient's symptoms and medical history. This will help determine if further testing or treatment is needed.

Step 4: Save for future reference

You can save a copy of the chart for future reference, making it easily accessible whenever needed. This can also help you track any changes in ANA levels over time.

When would you use this chart?

The ANA Levels Chart is a valuable resource primarily utilized by healthcare practitioners, especially in rheumatology, immunology, and internal medicine. Here are scenarios when this chart proves to be particularly beneficial:

Suspected autoimmune disorder

An ANA Levels Chart is particularly useful as a reference when a person is suspected of having an autoimmune disorder. The chart can help you determine the likelihood of an autoimmune disorder based on the levels of antinuclear antibodies in a person's blood.

Assessing the significance of positive test results

Because ANA is also found in healthy individuals or in those with other autoimmune diseases, healthcare professionals rely on the chart and additional clinical information to determine whether the positive ANA test result is significant. For example, in cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, a positive ANA result is present in nearly all patients (Zanussi et al., 2023), but in other conditions like mixed connective tissue disease, the interpretation of the ANA test results may vary based on specific levels and patterns of antibodies or associated clinical symptoms.

An educational tool for patients

The ANA Levels Chart can also be used as an educational tool for patients who have undergone ANA testing. It can help them better understand their results and the significance of ANA levels in relation to their symptoms and medical history.

By providing patients with this information, healthcare professionals can empower them to be more involved in their own healthcare and make informed decisions about their treatment.

ANA levels and ANA patterns

As mentioned, while ANA levels are useful in determining the presence of ANA in the blood, they should be interpreted in conjunction with ANA patterns. Here are some common ANA patterns that healthcare professionals may encounter when analyzing ANA test results (University of Florida Pathology Laboratories, n.d.):

Smooth or homogenous

The smooth (homogeneous) ANA pattern is commonly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), drug-induced lupus (DIL), and other collagen diseases like chronic active hepatitis and systemic scleroderma.

Speckled

The speckled ANA pattern is commonly associated with conditions such as SLE, Sjögren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Nucleolar

The nucleolar ANA pattern is most frequently associated with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), also known as scleroderma, as well as Sjögren’s syndrome.

Centromere

The centromere ANA pattern is commonly linked to scleroderma and CREST syndrome. Diagnostic testing often involves SS-A/SS-B, Scl-70, and Anti-RNP antibodies.

References

Carnago, L. (2023, February). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA). American College of Rheumathology. https://rheumatology.org/patients/antinuclear-antibodies-ana

University of Florida Pathology Laboratories. (n.d.). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA). https://pathlabs.ufl.edu/tests/test-directory-a/antinuclear-antibodies-ana/

Zanussi, J. T., Zhao, J., Wei, W.-Q., Karakoc, G., Chung, C. P., Feng, Q., Olsen, N. J., Stein, C. M., & Kawai, V. K. (2023). Clinical diagnoses associated with a positive antinuclear antibody test in patients with and without autoimmune disease. BMC Rheumatology, 7, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-023-00349-4