QuestionHi. I recently received results of an ANA and a Rheumatoid factor blood test and was told my result in both cases is 6 out of 10. Try as I might, I can't work out if that is positive, or negative for either case. I am based in the UK and wonder if different labs report results in different units. Can you help please? Thanks so much for your time.
Trish
AnswerHi Trish. I'm not sure what the 6 of 10 means, it may be something different in the UK than here in the US. But I can tell you a little about ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antigen) and Rheumatoid factor. Rheumatoid factor tests for rheumatoid arthritis and the test is either "POSITIVE" or "NEGATIVE". ANA tests for a variety of connective tissure diseases. ANA is either "NEGATIVE" or "POSITIVE" with a specific pattern. ANA shows up on indirect immunofluorescence as fluorescent patterns in cells that are fixed to a slide that is evaluated under a microscope. Different patterns are associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders. Some of the more common patterns include:
Homogenous (diffuse) - associated with SLE and mixed connective tissue disease
Speckled - associated with SLE, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and mixed connective tissue disease
Nucleolar - associated with scleroderma and polymyositis
Outline pattern (peripheral) -associated with SLE
A positive ANA test result may suggest an autoimmune disease, but further specific testing is required to assist in making a final diagnosis.
Samantha
