Anti nuclear antibody test

ANTI NUCLEAR ANTIBODY TEST

DESCRIPTION – an anti-nuclear antibody test is a blood test that looks for antinuclear antibodies in your blood. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria. But an antinuclear antibody attacks your own healthy cells instead.

METHODOLOGY – qualitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

TURN AROUND TIME – 1-3 days

PATIENT PREPARATION –

COLLECT – serum separator tube

SPECIMEN PREPARATION – separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 ml or serum to transport tube

STORAGE/TRANSPORT TEMPERATURE – refrigerated

STABILITY – ambient: 48 hours; refrigerated: 2 weeks; frozen: 1 year

UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION – non-serum, heat inactivated, grossly hemolyzed or severely lipemic specimens

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS – clinical history is mandatory