A positive ANA blood test means that antinuclear antibodies are present, but it is not a sure sign of an autoimmune disease. Some medications, viruses, and conditions such as cancer can cause a positive ANA. However, autoimmune diseases are the most frequent cause of a positive ANA. Some of the autoimmune diseases that can cause a positive ANA include:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogrens syndrome
- Juvenile arthritis
- Polymyositis
. It is important to note that a positive ANA reading alone does not indicate an autoimmune disease, and a negative ANA test result means no autoantibodies are present. Additionally, some individuals may have a false positive ANA without any underlying autoimmune disorders. If you have a positive ANA test result, your healthcare provider will likely order more tests to make a diagnosis.
