Immunofluorescence assay for autoantibodies to nuclear antigens (ANA) on HEp-2-cells​

Wolf D. Kuhlmann

Laboratory Diagnostics & Cell Science, 56112 Lahnstein, Germany

Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) testing by indirect immunofluorescence (IFT) is a fundamental laboratory method for the detection of antibodies in autoimmune diseases such as systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) from which clinical entities such as lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis and overlap syndromes are typical examples. ANA is a hallmark for diagnosing and differentiating such diseases.