Extractable Nuclear Antibodies
Private Extractable Nuclear Antibodies test in London for £108, assessing a specialist ENA profile with results expected in around 2 business days.
Turnaround time
2 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Extractable Nuclear Antibodies
The Extractable Nuclear Antibodies test is a specialist autoimmune blood test used to detect specific autoantibodies associated with systemic connective-tissue diseases.
The London Blood Tests product is listed as 1 laboratory biomarker: Extractable Nuclear Antibodies.
The current specialist laboratory assay assesses antibodies including nRNP, Sm, Ro, La, Jo-1, Scl-70 and CENP-B.
These antibodies recognise different proteins within or associated with the cell nucleus.
Different ENA antibodies are associated with different autoimmune disease patterns.
Anti-Sm is strongly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, although it is not present in every patient with lupus.
Anti-Ro and Anti-La are commonly associated with Sjögren's syndrome and can also occur in lupus and other autoimmune conditions.
Anti-Scl-70 is associated particularly with systemic sclerosis.
Anti-Centromere/CENP-B is associated with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
Anti-Jo-1 can occur in inflammatory myositis and antisynthetase syndrome.
Anti-RNP may occur in lupus and is particularly associated with mixed connective-tissue disease when present in the appropriate clinical context.
ENA testing is often performed after or alongside an Antinuclear Antibody test.
A positive ENA result does not independently diagnose an autoimmune disease.
Autoantibodies can occur in people who do not fulfil diagnostic criteria for the associated condition.
Conversely, some people with genuine autoimmune connective-tissue disease have negative ENA testing.
The result should therefore be interpreted with symptoms, examination findings, ANA pattern, inflammatory markers and other specific autoantibodies.
What Does the Extractable Nuclear Antibodies Test Check?
This test contains 1 specialist laboratory profile.
Extractable Nuclear Antibodies
Assesses a specialist ENA antibody profile including nRNP, Sm, Ro, La, Jo-1, Scl-70 and CENP-B to support investigation of systemic autoimmune connective-tissue disease.
Who May Benefit From the Extractable Nuclear Antibodies Test?
ENA testing is generally most useful when symptoms or a previous ANA result suggest a systemic autoimmune connective-tissue disorder.
People with a positive Antinuclear Antibody result - ENA can help identify a more specific autoantibody pattern.
People with symptoms suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus - Anti-Sm, Anti-RNP and Anti-Ro can provide relevant supplementary information.
People with persistent dry eyes and dry mouth - Anti-Ro and Anti-La are frequently considered during Sjögren's syndrome assessment.
People with Raynaud's phenomenon and other systemic features - ENA testing can contribute to systemic sclerosis or connective-tissue disease investigation.
People with skin tightening or other features of systemic sclerosis - Scl-70 and CENP-B antibodies can provide useful information.
People with unexplained inflammatory muscle weakness - Jo-1 can be relevant to selected inflammatory myositis syndromes.
People with overlapping connective-tissue disease features - Anti-RNP can be relevant where mixed connective-tissue disease is considered.
People with a previous positive ENA result - Repeat testing may occasionally be requested as part of specialist follow-up.
People specifically advised to obtain an ENA profile - The test is most useful when requested within a rheumatology or immunology assessment.
How to Prepare
Do not stop immune-modifying medication solely to influence an antibody result.
ENA testing is most useful when interpreted as part of a structured autoimmune evaluation.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Extractable Nuclear Antibodies Test
Systemic connective-tissue diseases can affect multiple organs and produce a wide variety of symptoms.
Persistent inflammatory joint pain or swelling - Arthritis can occur with lupus and other connective-tissue diseases.
Raynaud's phenomenon - Fingers changing colour in response to cold can occur in systemic sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions.
Persistent dry eyes and dry mouth - These are characteristic symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome.
Unexplained photosensitive skin rashes - Lupus can cause rashes that worsen following sun exposure.
Recurrent mouth ulcers with systemic symptoms - Oral ulceration can occur in autoimmune disease but has many other causes.
Skin tightening or thickening - This may occur in systemic sclerosis and requires specialist assessment.
Progressive muscle weakness - Inflammatory myositis can produce proximal muscle weakness.
Unexplained breathlessness with autoimmune symptoms - Some connective-tissue diseases can involve the lungs.
A positive ANA with otherwise unexplained symptoms - ENA testing can provide greater antibody specificity.
These symptoms are not diagnostic of autoimmune disease and can occur for many other reasons.
Severe breathlessness, rapidly progressive muscle weakness, significant neurological symptoms or other serious systemic illness requires prompt clinical assessment.
How to Book Your Extractable Nuclear Antibodies Test
Booking your ENA test with London Blood Tests is straightforward.
Choose the Extractable Nuclear Antibodies
Select the specialist ENA blood test.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum undergoes specialist immunology analysis for the ENA antibody profile.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised autoimmune report is delivered securely for interpretation with your ANA and clinical findings.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The expected specialist turnaround for Extractable Nuclear Antibodies is approximately 2 business days after your sample reaches the laboratory.
ENA is a specialist immunology assay, but the current laboratory processes the profile relatively rapidly.
Once the sample is received, antibody analysis, internal quality control and laboratory authorisation must be completed before release.
If additional autoimmune investigations are added following an abnormal result, their reporting times may differ from the initial ENA profile.
Understanding Your Results
A negative ENA profile means the specific antibodies included in the assay were not detected.
This makes certain antibody-associated connective-tissue diseases less likely but does not exclude every autoimmune disease.
A positive result identifies one or more specific autoantibodies.
The clinical meaning depends heavily on which antibody is present.
For example, Anti-Sm has a different disease association from Anti-Ro, Jo-1 or Scl-70.
The antibody concentration and the patient's symptoms also matter.
A positive ENA result in a person with no compatible clinical features does not automatically establish a diagnosis.
Interpretation should therefore consider ANA, dsDNA antibodies, Complement C3/C4, inflammatory markers and the overall clinical presentation.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
Private ENA testing in London - Access specialist connective-tissue autoantibody testing privately.
Multiple clinically important antibody targets - The specialist assay assesses a range of ENA antibodies.
Useful after a positive ANA - ENA can provide greater antibody specificity.
Relevant to lupus, Sjögren's and systemic sclerosis assessment - Different ENA patterns are associated with different autoimmune diseases.
Specialist immunology analysis - Samples undergo dedicated autoantibody testing.
Fast specialist results - Expected turnaround is approximately 2 business days.
Secure reporting - Receive your authorised result securely.
Clear pricing - Extractable Nuclear Antibodies testing costs £108.
Private Extractable Nuclear Antibodies Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private ENA testing in London for people requiring specialist assessment of possible systemic autoimmune disease.
The test costs £108 and is listed as one specialist laboratory profile.
The current assay evaluates several clinically important extractable nuclear antigen antibodies.
Results are expected approximately 2 business days after laboratory receipt.