What is the significance of the pattern of ANA?
ANA patterns refer to the patterns of nuclear fluorescence observed under the fluorescence microscope. Certain patterns of fluorescence are associated with certain nuclear antigens that are in turn associated with specific diseases.
Patterns of staining provide a clue to the category of nuclear antigens involved and are dependent upon the type of substrate used and, to a certain extent, the experience of the technician. Reliance on ANA patterns has largely been replaced by identification of specific ANAs through the ANA profile
