The ANA test is a blood test that looks for antinuclear antibodies. Basically, this test is looking for evidence that your body is attacking itself — in other words, it’s looking for an autoimmune disease such as Sjögren’s.
Does a positive ANA test mean you have Sjögren’s or some other autoimmune disease? Not necessarily. In fact, some estimates say that as many as 20% to 30% of people may have a positive ANA test but they do NOT have an autoimmune disease, nor will they ever develop one. (On the other hand, there are folks who don’t have positive ANAs that do have Sjögren’s or another autoimmune disease. These folks are considered seronegative, and they can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose.)
Your PCP, dentist, ophthalmologist or other doctor may order this test if they suspect you have something autoimmune going on. Here’s more information about the test:
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