The ANA Laboratory at M.U. is one of a handful of places that can help physicians determine exactly what is wrong with their patients who have rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are common afflictions that cause pain in joints and muscles and may also affect internal organs. But they are difficult to diagnose, even for the most experienced physicians. The Lab, formally established as a licensed clinical pathology laboratory in 1977 to meet the demand for ANA testing, performs a variety of highly specialized tests to assist doctors from around the world in diagnosing and managing rheumatic diseases. That leads them to earlier diagnoses and treatments, or rules out the possibility of a disease, saving money and avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures.
Rheumatic diseases come in many forms, from lupus to scleroderma.
Untreated, or treated improperly, they can lead to disability or death. Rheumatic diseases result from the body's natural defenses attacking its own cells and tissues, called an autoimmune response. The Lab tests serum, a clear fluid that separates from blood when it clots, for autoantibodies. Autoantibodies are produced by the body's immune system and are specific to various components of cellular nuclei. Different antinuclear antibodies are markers for different rheumatic diseases.