ANA tests?

ANA can be positive for no reason without any disease, positive with many diseases, and even made positive by certain medications or illnesses that pass.

You can also have a negative ANA and still be very sick. It all depends and ANA is not a good way to judge anything because it can vary so much and doesn't always mean anything.

Ann . . . it IS an important test. It is used along with many other factors to help diagnose. I happen to be an ANA negative with some real autoimmune issues . . . but the thought is that they just haven't tested me while I'm positive. There is also a "pattern" if your ANA is positive and that pattern is helpful in dx too. There is a post in "Lupus Resources" (link in my signature) about the various patterns. Hang in there . . . eventually . . . . Blessings!