ENA Panel ( ENA Test )
Why Testing?
Testing is done to diagnose and differentiate autoimmune diseases and to monitor autoimmune disease progression.
What is being tested?
Extractable Nuclear Antibody (ENA) panel detects the presence of one or more autoantibodies,the autoantibodies react with cell proteins. Nuclear antibodies in the blood are known as “extractable” because they can be extracted from the cell nucleus using saline.
Autoantibodies are produced when a person’s immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body’s own tissues. This attack can cause inflammation, tissue damage, and other signs and symptoms associated with an autoimmune disorder.
Some autoimmune disorders are characteristically associated with the presence of one or more anti-ENA antibodies. This relationship can be used to help diagnose an autoimmune disorder and to differentiate between disorders.
The ENA panel typically consists of a set of 4 or 6 autoantibody tests. The number of tests performed will depend on the laboratory and the needs of the healthcare professionals and patients it serves. Individual ENA panel tests can be ordered separately.
ENA TestingWhen to Test?
When Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) test is positive; When you have symptoms suggestive of an autoimmune disorder; When monitoring the activity of an autoimmune disorder. For example, a blood sample from a vein in the Arm (Serum)