DATE: October 25, 2017
TIME: 10:00am PDT, 1:00pm EDT

Testing for antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) has been a routine part of the evaluation of patients with a suspected connective tissue disease (CTD) for the last 50 years. Dr. Melissa Snyder and Dr. Gyorgy Abel will present the methods for ANA testing available to the clinical laboratory today as well as current ANA testing guidelines and examples of algorithms in use. Dr. Snyder will present findings from her study comparing various ANA methods and Dr. Abel will share his laboratory’s experience in implementing one of the newer methods for ANA testing. The speakers will provide valuable information to help you make an informed decision for your laboratory when choosing methods for ANA testing.

Learning Objectives:

• List the methods available to the clinical laboratory for general ANA testing.
• Describe ANA testing guidelines and algorithms and the current trends in testing.
• Describe how the various ANA methods compare in terms of analytical characteristics and clinical utility.