Wondering what the anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) test is all about? It's a blood test that looks for antibodies attacking your own DNA — and it's one of the more specific tests for lupus.
Here's what's helpful to know about it:
- A positive result gives doctors a stronger indication of lupus than a general ANA test
- Show Full Answer
Wondering what the anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) test is all about? It's a blood test that looks for antibodies attacking your own DNA — and it's one of the more specific tests for lupus.
Here's what's helpful to know about it:
- A positive result gives doctors a stronger indication of lupus than a general ANA test
- Only about 30% of people with lupus test positive, so a negative result doesn't rule lupus out
- Fewer than 1% of healthy people test positive, making it fairly specific
- Levels can rise during a flare and drop during treatment, so it's useful for tracking disease activity
- It's especially important if lupus nephritis (kidney inflammation from lupus) is suspected Because levels can shift so much over time, doctors don't rely on this test alone. It's always interpreted alongside symptoms and other test results to get the full picture.
It's always worth asking a rheumatologist to walk through what the specific numbers mean for your situation.
October 16
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