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The Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test determines if a person has been exposed to radiation in their surroundings or if they might be suffering from an autoimmune disease. It can be used in patients with various conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme Disease, and Cancer. Governments also utilize this ANA test in the United States to monitor the amount of radiation between countries.
What is the ANA Test?
The test measures the level of antibodies in a patient’s blood when it comes into contact with radioactive particles. In this case, the “particles” are radioactive forms of the disease-causing agent. The levels of antibodies will vary depending on what kind of exposure a patient has had and how long it was for.
One study showed that nearly 60% of people tested had significant radiation exposure during some period, whether from the fallout from atomic bombs, nuclear power plants, or other nuclear facilities.
Most often, it correlates with your age at exposure and how long you were exposed to any form of radiation, meaning you’ll get more exposure when you are young than when you are older because you’re moving around more, gathering more particles throughout your day.
However, this means that even children living through disasters like Fukushima will have detectable amounts in their bodies! These results prove that there is no such thing as a safe amount of radiation exposure!
Interestingly, many people who lived through World War II show elevated levels due to being contaminated with fallout over multiple years. Modern technology may not be able to detect anything past ten years, though!
About The Test:
The ANA test measures the activity of the immune system and is used to detect autoimmune diseases. It can be performed on blood or saliva, depending on your availability. This test measures antibodies against common antigens (components of a disease).
Antibodies that react specifically with your tissue are called autoantibodies (or “self” antibodies). They’re present in most cases of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as some other autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s), Graves’ disease/thyroid cancer, etc.
Who Should Get The Test?
The antinuclear antibody test is performed on patients with symptoms of an autoimmune disease, such as:
- Patients with symptoms of lupus (lupus nephritis and other forms of kidney disease)
- Patients with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (including joint pain, stiffness, and swelling)
- Patients with symptoms of connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma or systemic sclerosis.
Answers To Common Questions About The Test, Who Can Get Tested And Who Shouldn’t:
What Is The Process Of The Test?
The test is used to detect autoimmune disease in people with symptoms that suggest they might have it. It’s not a replacement for a full blood workup or physical exam, but it can indicate whether your doctor should order more tests on you.
Who Should Get Tested?
If you have any autoimmune condition (like lupus or asthma), generalizability concerns and cost issues should be considered when deciding whether to get tested.
There Are A Lot Of Diseases You Can Have Without Knowing It, Many Of Which Can Go Undiagnosed:
It is used to detect autoimmune diseases. It can be used to detect many types of cancers and infections, as well.
Conclusion:
You will also find that most of these tests are done through urinalysis. The urine test is strongly recommended as it is cheap and readily available (no doctor visit required), thus giving you a fair idea about your health status.
