SARDs are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by dysregulation of the immune system, that starts to turn against the body’s own tissues. Major SARDs include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis and Sjögren’s syndrome. These diseases can affect multiple organs and share common symptoms such as fatigue, fever, joint pain and skin rash. Diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical assessment and specific autoantibody tests. Early diagnosis is crucial to initiate appropriate therapy and slow down disease progression.
ANA testing is the first recommended diagnostic step when there is a clinical suspicion of SARD. The reference method of detection is indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells, which allows the identification of over 100 autoantibodies against antigens localized in various subcellular structures, ensuring high diagnostic sensitivity (up to 96–97% in connective tissue diseases).
The prevalence of ANA in inflammatory rheumatic diseases ranges between 20% and 100%, with the lowest prevalence observed in rheumatoid arthritis (20–40%). As a result, ANA differential diagnostics are essential for identifying individual rheumatic diseases and distinguishing them from other autoimmune conditions.
Consistent and clinically useful ANA reporting is ensured by the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP), an international classification system standardising nomenclature for the interpretation of fluorescence patterns on HEp-2 cells.
Serum, EDTA plasma, heparin plasma, citrate plasma
IFA cells
Fasting for at least 8-12 hours before sampling
Refer to the Health Service Charter to check storage conditions
+2/+8°C
This test provides the quantitative determination of total tau protein to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
This test provides the quantitative determination of tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 181 (pTau181), to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Test for the determination of human autoantibodies against NMDAR to support the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes with an intermediate-risk phenotype.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be always updated.