Should I Worry about my Child's Positive ANA Test?

A lot of parents are justifiably anxious when they find out their child has tested positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). However, a positive test result, by itself, does NOT mean your child has an autoimmune condition. Many, many normal individuals will test positive for this test. Symptoms of autoimmune disorders can vary widely from patient to patient, and these conditions may be very difficult to diagnose. Although a positive ANA test may assist in the diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, alone it is meaningless. A reliable diagnosis can only be made after a board certified pediatric rheumatologist conducts a careful analysis of your child's symptoms, physical findings, and other laboratory test results.