[watersonata]

So... I got my ANA back, and doctor said he didn't know how to read it, since the lab changed up the procedures. Said it used to be measured in titers, and now it was in a percentage.

The lab test thing said it should be "less than 10%" and mine was 27.8%.

What does that mean? Doc said he "guessed" people with lupus would have an ANA in the 1000% area.

 

[Lily]

Hi there and :welcome:

That reading makes no sense to me. There are two ways of testing (to my knowledge) and the titre method mentioned by your GP is one. The other is called the ANA direct method and anything over 120 is a positive reading. Very strange?

However if the lab says that 10% is the normal then you could class this as a positive. Going on your other post then it's a good idea to get a referral to a Rheumatologist so some other relevant tests can be done to try and find out just what is going on.

love
Lily

 

[Katharine]

Hello and welcome

I too have never heard of ANA being measured as a percentage and a quick google brought up nothing on that either.

Perhaps it is the second kind Lily mentioned (which docs are indeed less familiar with) and that their positive is lower than the 120 positive... though, if they're saying that over 10 is positive that really doesn't make sense either :scratch: unless ten refers to 100???? I really don't know.

I hope the rheumy can maybe explain this - we'd all love to know the outcome of that one :wink2:

When getting a referral try to make sure you go and see a lupus specialised rheumy as not all are.

Bye for now,
Katharine

 

[Clare.T]

Doc said he "guessed" people with lupus would have an ANA in the 1000% area.

How pathetic ! Maybe the "1000%" is a typo, but if not .....


Clare

 

[lin]

Never heard that one before ,but hope they do help you Lin x

 

[watersonata]

How pathetic ! Maybe the "1000%" is a typo, but if not .....


Clare

Hahah, no, unfortunately that is not a typo!! My jaw nearly hit the floor when he said that one... especially after claiming he "didn't know" how to read the test, but here was a "guess"! UGH. America's healthcare...

 

[watersonata]

Hello and welcome

I too have never heard of ANA being measured as a percentage and a quick google brought up nothing on that either.

Perhaps it is the second kind Lily mentioned (which docs are indeed less familiar with) and that their positive is lower than the 120 positive... though, if they're saying that over 10 is positive that really doesn't make sense either :scratch: unless ten refers to 100???? I really don't know.

I hope the rheumy can maybe explain this - we'd all love to know the outcome of that one :wink2:

When getting a referral try to make sure you go and see a lupus specialised rheumy as not all are.

Bye for now,
Katharine

I did a Google search, too... haha. I didn't find anything either. Not sure what that second kind of testing is, and getting to a Rheumatologist is going to be a chore with my doctor support. Once I do find out, I will be sure to come back here and tell everyone what the % means. I think we all have a right to be informed... after all, they are tests performed on OUR bodies.

 

[watersonata]

Hi there and :welcome:

That reading makes no sense to me. There are two ways of testing (to my knowledge) and the titre method mentioned by your GP is one. The other is called the ANA direct method and anything over 120 is a positive reading. Very strange?

However if the lab says that 10% is the normal then you could class this as a positive. Going on your other post then it's a good idea to get a referral to a Rheumatologist so some other relevant tests can be done to try and find out just what is going on.

love
Lily

Hi Lily...

Doctor did in fact classify me with a positive ANA, but he said that some large amount of the population has a +ANA, and that he probably had a high ANA, too. (I'd like to know what he would do if he was feeling so sick... dismiss it? I doubt it!)

I read that it is not a specific test, but I wish I knew how high or not high my ANA is.

Thank you for your help!!

 

[watersonata]

Never heard that one before ,but hope they do help you Lin x

Thank you, Lin!!