Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)

ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies) Test

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Taking medicine. Many medicines can change the results of this test. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the non-prescription and prescription medicines you take.
• Aging. Some older adults (5% to 40%) may have mildly elevated levels. Older women appear to have higher ANA titres than older men.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: August 31, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
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