title: Guidelines for the laboratory use of autoantibody tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
abstract: The Italian Society of Laboratory Medicine Study Group on the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Diseases has generated a series of guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases intendedfor the use of clinical pathologists and laboratory physicians. These guidelines are based on a systematic review of published works and expert panel discussion and consist of 13 recommendations for antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded native DNA, and antinuclear specific antibodies. To improve analytic performances and help select the most appropriate test for specific autoantibodies, as well as provide education and guidance in the use of these tests, special emphasis is placed on laboratory methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Civic Hospital, Latisana, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tozzoli
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bizzaro
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tonutti
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villalta
authors.forename: Danila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manoni
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pradella
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rizzotti
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies