Specialist marker · Autoimmune
An ANA (antinuclear antibody) blood test is the broad screening test for autoimmune connective tissue conditions such as lupus, Sjögren's syndrome and scleroderma. A negative result makes lupus very unlikely; a low positive result is common in healthy people and needs context. ANA is included in TrueVitals Signature (£799), read alongside complement C3 and C4, ESR, hs-CRP and a full blood count.
Antinuclear antibodies target material inside the nucleus of your own cells. They are present in almost everyone with lupus and in many people with other connective tissue diseases, which makes ANA a sensitive first screen.
They are also found in a sizeable minority of healthy people, more often in women and with age, and can appear after infections or with some medicines. So ANA is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
Signature reads ANA with complement C3 and C4 (which fall when lupus is active), ESR, hs-CRP, the full blood count (low white cells or platelets can go with lupus), kidney function and urine results. That context is what turns a single antibody into a useful answer.
| Option | Includes it | Price | What else you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueVitals Signature | Yes | £799 incl. draw | ANA with complement C3 and C4, anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, ESR and hs-CRP among 230 biomarkers. Clinician-reviewed report. |
| TrueVitals Ultimate | No | £399 incl. clinic draw | Rheumatoid factor, ESR, hs-CRP and thyroid antibodies, but not ANA. |
| NHS GP | On request | Free if clinically indicated | Requested when symptoms suggest a connective tissue disease. |
TrueVitals prices checked 5 November 2026. Every TrueVitals report is clinician-reviewed. Pay in instalments with Klarna or Clearpay. Signature is drawn at one of 70 Randox Health clinics; Ultimate at one of 103 partner clinics or with a home visit.
Testing without symptoms: ANA is most useful when there are symptoms that fit. Testing without them often finds a low positive result that means nothing but causes worry. Your report says plainly when a result is in the range commonly seen in healthy people.
A private panel is a good way to get a baseline, understand a result in context and track it over time. It does not replace your GP for symptoms, and anything that needs follow-up is flagged in plain words in your report.
No. Ultimate includes rheumatoid factor, ESR, hs-CRP and thyroid antibodies. ANA is included in Signature.
No. Many healthy people have a low positive ANA. Lupus is diagnosed from symptoms, examination and further tests, not ANA alone.
It makes lupus very unlikely, but not every autoimmune condition. Rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease and thyroid autoimmunity have their own tests.
Some labs report a pattern such as speckled or homogeneous. It can hint at which follow-up tests are useful, but it does not diagnose a condition on its own.
Yes. Some blood pressure, heart rhythm and anti-inflammatory medicines can cause a positive ANA. List your medicines in the lifestyle quiz so your report can account for them.
How this page was written: by James Smillie, founder of TrueVitals, reviewed by the TrueVitals clinical review team, using NHS and laboratory reference sources. Ranges are typical values; your report uses your lab's own ranges. TrueVitals sells the panels named on this page, so we have stated plainly what this test cannot do. Last updated 5 November 2026.
Signature: 230 biomarkers including ANA, complement C3 and C4 and anti-CCP, £799 including the draw. Clinician-reviewed report.
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