The “False-Positive” Antinuclear Antibody Test — A Common Dilemma

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are key diagnostic features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and several other autoimmune disorders. However, false-positive test results — i.e., positive results in patients who ultimately are found not to have traditional ANA-associated disorders — are not uncommon. In this retrospective study, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center identified clinical conditions strongly associated with high-titer ANAs in such patients.