Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics

38 - Instant insights: Using ANAlyzeR to navigate systemic autoimmune disease (6 min)

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Millions of people with systemic autoimmune diseases face a long and frustrating journey to diagnosis, often lasting years. In this episode, Dr Maeson Latsko explores how to expand on the standard antinuclear antibody (ANA) test for autoimmune disease. While the ANA test is a critical starting point, a negative result doesn't rule out disease, and a positive result is not a definitive diagnosis. The ANAlyzeR™ panel is a comprehensive test that evaluates 25 autoimmune markers from a single blood draw. This approach provides a full-picture view from the outset, helping clinicians differentiate between 8 common autoimmune conditions, reduce diagnostic uncertainty, and get patients on the path to treatment sooner.

Learning Objectives

This episode will:

  • Describe the challenges and delays in the typical diagnostic journey for patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (1:00)
  • Explain the role of the ANA test as a first-line screening tool (2:00)
  • Introduce the ANAlyzeR™ comprehensive panel as a solution to shorten the diagnostic process by simultaneously evaluating 25 analytes, to identify 8 common autoimmune conditions, regardless of the initial ANA result (3:55)

    • Additional resources

    • ANAlyzeR™ Test Summary: https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/36378/analyzer-ana-ifa-with-reflex-titerpattern-systemic-autoimmune-panel-1
    • ANAlyzeR™ Data Analysis Review Guide: DiagnoseAutoimmune.com
    • Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center: https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/clinical-education-center

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      References

      1. Liu X, Patel AB, Seidel JE, et al. Traveling towards timeliness: the association between geographic access and wait times for rheumatology consultation in a centralized referral system. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(19):2533. doi:10.3390/healthcare13192533
      2. Mechleb K, Hmamouchi I, Abdulateef N, et al. Exploring diagnostic timelines: a cross-sectional study of referral and diagnostic delays of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Arab J Rheumatol. 2025;3:5-13. doi:10.4103/ajr.ajr_17_24
      3. Autoimmune Association. Tips for getting a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/diagnosis-tips/
      4. Data on file. Quest Diagnostics; 2026.
      5. Lockshin ME, Levine AB, Erkan D. Patients with overlap autoimmune disease differ from those with 'pure' disease. Lupus Sci Med. 2015;2:e000084. doi:10.1136/lupus-2015-000084
      6. Icen M, Nicola PJ, Maradit-Kremers H, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus features in rheumatoid arthritis and their impact on overall mortality. J Rheumatol. 2009;36(1):50-57. doi:10.3899/jrheum.080091
      7. Aringer M, Costenbader K, Daikh D, et al. 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(9):1151-1159.
      8. Petri M, Orbai AM, Alarcón GS, et al. Derivation and validation of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(8):2677-2686.
      9. Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62(9):2569-2581. doi:10.1002/art.27584
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