Test Name
ANTI NUCLEAR ANTIBODIES (ANA)
Aliases
ANA BY IFA
Abbreviations
ANA
Test Classification
GROUPED TEST
Department
SEROLOGY
Sub Department
AUTOIMMUNITY
TAT Category
ELAPSED (CONTINUOUS) TIME
Estimated TAT
72
TAT Units
HOURS
Test Requirements
Serum in plain tube (red top) or SST tube (yellow top) or in a separation vial. Centrifuge tubes within 1 hour. Separate centrifuged serum in plain tubes within 1 hour.
Test components: DNA, RNA, histones, and nucleoproteins
SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS
Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated
ANALYTE STABILITY
Room Temperature: 1 DAY at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 7 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 1 MONTH at -20°C
Clinical Utility
Detect systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases e.g. SLE, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, polymyositis etc. Evaluate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as one component of a multi-criteria diagnostic process that co-opts clinical criteria (refer to current ACR/ EULAR criteria for diagnosis of SLE).
Last Review
26th Feb 2026