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Comprehensive ANA Reflex Panel

Measures specific antibodies linked to autoimmune diseases affecting joints, skin, muscles, and internal organs.

About Comprehensive ANA Reflex Panel

This panel is a focused set of tests used to investigate autoimmune conditions, diseases in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. The starting point is an ANA (antinuclear antibody) screen, which looks broadly for antibodies that bind to cell nuclei. If this screen is positive, the lab automatically checks for more specific autoantibodies, each tied to certain diseases.

  • dsDNA antibody: Targets DNA itself, strongly linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially when the disease affects the kidneys.
  • Smith (Sm) antibody: Highly specific for lupus, though less common. Its presence supports the diagnosis even if other markers are borderline.
  • Scl-70 (topoisomerase I) antibody: Often found in diffuse systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), particularly with lung and skin involvement.
  • Jo-1 antibody: A marker for polymyositis and dermatomyositis, especially when there is associated lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease).
  • SS-A (Ro) and SS-B (La) antibodies: Hallmarks of Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that damages tear and salivary glands, but also seen in lupus and other connective tissue diseases.
  • RNP antibody: Found in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), where features of lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis overlap.
  • Chromatin antibody: Can be present in lupus and other autoimmune conditions; it reflects immune attack against the proteins that help package DNA.
  • Centromere B antibody: Associated with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (formerly called CREST syndrome), a scleroderma variant that progresses more slowly but can affect blood vessels and the lungs.

The value of this panel is that it does not just show whether autoimmunity is present but also helps narrow down which condition is most likely. Because many autoimmune diseases share symptoms, fatigue, joint pain, rashes, dry eyes and mouth, these antibodies serve as fingerprints, guiding diagnosis and treatment. That said, a positive test does not always equal disease; low levels can appear in healthy people, especially with age. Interpretation always depends on the full clinical picture.

12 Biomarkers Included

ANA Screen
Detects the presence of antinuclear antibodies that may signal autoimmune disorders.
ANA Titer
Measures how much antinuclear antibody is present; higher titers may indicate active autoimmune activity.
ANA Pattern
Fluorescent cell pattern that reveals whether the immune system is attacking the body and which autoimmune disease may be involved.
Anti-Double Stranded DNA Antibody
An autoantibody that attacks double-stranded DNA, signaling active lupus and risk for kidney damage.
Sm Antibody
An autoantibody that targets a core part of RNA-processing complexes and signals diseases like lupus.
Scleroderma Antibody
An autoantibody that signals the presence of scleroderma, a disease that causes thickening of the skin and organs.
J-o1 Antibody
An autoantibody that targets a key protein in muscle cells and signals risk for myositis and lung disease.
SS-A Antibody
An autoantibody that targets Ro proteins and signals autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, and neonatal lupus risk.
SS-B Antibody
An autoantibody that targets the La protein and signals autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome and lupus.
RNP Antibody
An autoantibody that targets RNA-protein complexes and signals autoimmune conditions such as mixed connective tissue disease.
Chromatin Antibody
An autoantibody that targets the material wrapping DNA and signals autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Centromere B Antibody
An autoantibody that attacks chromosome-separating proteins and signals risk for autoimmune diseases like scleroderma.