title: Diagnostic testing and interpretation of tests for autoimmunity.
abstract: Laboratory testing is of great value when evaluating a patient with a suspected autoimmune disease. The results can confirm a diagnosis, estimate disease severity, aid in assessing prognosis and are useful for following disease activity. Components of the laboratory examination include a complete blood count with differential, a comprehensive metabolic panel, measurement of inflammatory markers and autoantibodies, and flow cytometry. This chapter discusses these components and includes a discussion about organ-specific immunologic diseases for which immunologic laboratory testing is used. Comprehensive laboratory evaluation of a suspected autoimmune illness in conjunction with a thorough clinical evaluation provides a better understanding of a patient's immunologic disease.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. castroc2@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gourley
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers