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What Does Negative ANA Test Indicate?
Question: Tested 4 points over range for RA blood test
And negative for ANA. What does this mean? I do have a sister who has RA and was diagnosed at 18
And negative for ANA. What does this mean? I do have a sister who has RA and was diagnosed at 18
Brief Answer:
RA factor may be positive in healthy individual
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting
I have gone through your query carefully,RA factor and ANA factor are the test to assess the level of antibody in blood because they are raised in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis,lupus,sjogren syndrome, drug induced lupus, autoimmune hepatitis,polymyositis.They alone are never the basis to level a person with a particular disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination beside blood work.
If you are negative for ANA that means your chances of having lupus, sjogren syndrome is less. On the contrary If one is positive for ANA it test does not indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease or the need for therapy.
Rheumatoid arthritis has a genetic inheritance.RA factor may become negative while a person is taking treatment. The more specific test for rheumatoid arthritis is Anti CCP antibody test. Rheumatoid factor can also be positive in people who suffer with infections. These may include hepatitis, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, and syphilis.
Remember, positive results from the rheumatoid factor test do not automatically mean you have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor may be positive in some healthy individuals and negative in people who actually have RA.
When RA is linked with high levels of rheumatoid factor along with clinical finding it may signify more aggressive disease.
My advice would be visit a rheumatologist/physician for evaluation and treatment.
Hope this helps and I shall be glad to answer any further query.
Take care
Dr.chugh, Orthopaedic surgeon
RA factor may be positive in healthy individual
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting
I have gone through your query carefully,RA factor and ANA factor are the test to assess the level of antibody in blood because they are raised in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis,lupus,sjogren syndrome, drug induced lupus, autoimmune hepatitis,polymyositis.They alone are never the basis to level a person with a particular disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination beside blood work.
If you are negative for ANA that means your chances of having lupus, sjogren syndrome is less. On the contrary If one is positive for ANA it test does not indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease or the need for therapy.
Rheumatoid arthritis has a genetic inheritance.RA factor may become negative while a person is taking treatment. The more specific test for rheumatoid arthritis is Anti CCP antibody test. Rheumatoid factor can also be positive in people who suffer with infections. These may include hepatitis, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, and syphilis.
Remember, positive results from the rheumatoid factor test do not automatically mean you have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor may be positive in some healthy individuals and negative in people who actually have RA.
When RA is linked with high levels of rheumatoid factor along with clinical finding it may signify more aggressive disease.
My advice would be visit a rheumatologist/physician for evaluation and treatment.
Hope this helps and I shall be glad to answer any further query.
Take care
Dr.chugh, Orthopaedic surgeon
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Mukesh Chugh
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :1997
Answered : 1619 Questions
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