Test Detail

ANA / Extractable Nuclear Antigen Antibodies (ENA) Panel

An Extractable Nuclear Antigen (ENA) panel is a blood test that detects specific autoantibodies against proteins found in the nucleus of cells, which is useful in diagnosing autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, and scleroderma. The panel tests for antibodies to several common ENA proteins, including RNP, Sm, SSA/Ro, SSB/La, Scl-70, and Jo-1, helping to differentiate between these complex autoimmune conditions and monitor disease progression. What the Test Does Identifies autoantibodies: The test measures the levels of autoantibodies (antibodies that mistakenly attack the body's own healthy cells) in your blood. Targets specific ENA proteins: It specifically looks for antibodies directed against several known extractable nuclear antigens, which are proteins that can be extracted from cell nuclei.