title: Antinuclear antibodies: when to test and how to interpret findings.
abstract: Order ANA assays only when clinical features suggest a connective tissue disorder. Let ANA immunofluorescent patterns direct additional testing decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Regina General Hospital, Saskatchewan, Canada. Email: habib31@sasktel.net.
authors.forename: Habib U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Rehman
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear