Guest guest Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 Hi everyone, I know I am asking alot of questions, but I am just so confused. Has anyone else in here with RA had a blood test called ANA panel (Lupus) done and it came out positive but the actual Lupus test Negative? The Rheumatologist told me that happens with RA patients. RA patients tend to test positive on their ANA but that doesn't mean they have Lupus. I tested positive for ANA but the Lupus test was negative. My primary dr told me that means I don't have Lupus (because the actual Lupus test was negative), but then the Rheumatologist said there was no sign of " Active " Lupus. I am so confused. What does that mean? Please help!!!!! Traci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Many people with autoimmune disorders have a positive ANA. Mine is just barely positive (1:80). From my understanding, typically those with RA have a lower ANA count and tend to be a specific pattern (there is typically a pattern associated with the ANA). When you are working on diagnosis, it really can be difficult to sift through the dozens of diseases it could be. Since I have been diagnosed there have been a few more specific tests to narrow things down, but blood work is much like other diagnostics, it is an aid. From: lucydes29 <lucydes29@...> Subject: [ ] RA/ANA panel test Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 12:48 AM Hi everyone, I know I am asking alot of questions, but I am just so confused. Has anyone else in here with RA had a blood test called ANA panel (Lupus) done and it came out positive but the actual Lupus test Negative? The Rheumatologist told me that happens with RA patients. RA patients tend to test positive on their ANA but that doesn't mean they have Lupus. I tested positive for ANA but the Lupus test was negative. My primary dr told me that means I don't have Lupus (because the actual Lupus test was negative), but then the Rheumatologist said there was no sign of " Active " Lupus. I am so confused. What does that mean? Please help!!!!! Traci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Traci, A positive ANA test result is not specific to lupus. Sometimes, if the ANA is positive, your physician will run tests which are more specific to lupus. If those are negative, and you don't have symptoms of lupus, the level of suspicion that lupus is at work will then be low. Some estimates are that more than 30% of people with RA are ANA-positive. In the vast majority of cases, these patients will not have lupus in addition to their RA. Not and MD On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 11:48 PM, lucydes29 <lucydes29@...> wrote: > Hi everyone, I know I am asking alot of questions, but I am just so > confused. Has anyone else in here with RA had a blood test called ANA panel > (Lupus) done and it came out positive but the actual Lupus test Negative? > The Rheumatologist told me that happens with RA patients. RA patients tend > to test positive on their ANA but that doesn't mean they have Lupus. I > tested positive for ANA but the Lupus test was negative. My primary dr told > me that means I don't have Lupus (because the actual Lupus test was > negative), but then the Rheumatologist said there was no sign of " Active " > Lupus. I am so confused. What does that mean? Please help!!!!! Traci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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