Sometimes when a doctor tells you to do a blood test, you can't figure out what it means or what it's looking for, right? The ANCA test is one such unfamiliar name. But there's no reason to be scared or worried just because you hear this name. Today, we'll talk about what it looks for, why it's being done, and what the results mean in a very simple way that you can understand.
Simply put, what is this ANCA test?
The ANCA test is a test that takes a sample of your blood. It mainly checks for the presence of something called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies ( ANCA for short) in your blood.
Now you might be wondering what that name is. Let's break it down a little more simply and understand.
Imagine that our body is like a country. There is an army to protect this country. That army is our immune system . A special type of soldier in this army is called neutrophils . Their job is to fight enemies like germs and bacteria that enter our body and protect us from diseases.
But sometimes our immune system goes awry. Our own defenses start attacking our own good cells. This is how we call autoantibodies , proteins that are produced against our own bodies.
ANCA is one such autoantibody. What this ANCA does is attack the white blood cells called neutrophils that protect us. So the ANCA test measures whether there are autoantibodies in your blood that work against our own body, and if so, how many of them are there.
Why would a doctor tell you to do this ANCA test?
A doctor usually orders this test if they suspect a condition called vasculitis .
Simply put, vasculitis is the inflammation of the blood vessels (blood vessels) in our body. Just like a water pipe becomes swollen, it becomes difficult for water to flow through it. When blood vessels become swollen, blood flow is obstructed and various organs in our body can be damaged. This is an autoimmune disease, meaning it is caused by the activity of our own immune system.
There are several main types of vasculitis associated with autoantibodies called ANCA. If you have any of these symptoms, this test can help confirm it.
| Types of ANCA-associated Vasculitis | Former name |
|---|---|
| Granulomatosis with polyangiitis | Wegener's granulomatosis |
| Microscopic polyangiitis | - |
| Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis | Churg-Strauss syndrome |
Swelling of blood vessels can impair blood supply to major organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose and treat these conditions early.
Are there types of ANCA?
Yes, there are two main types of ANCA. These may be mentioned in your test report.
1. cANCA: This attacks a protein called proteinase 3 (PR3) .
2. pANCA: This attacks a protein called myeloperoxidase (MPO) .
Knowing which of these two types you have in your body will help your doctor identify exactly what type of vasculitis you have.
How to take the test and prepare
This is a very simple procedure. You don't need to do anything special to prepare for this. However, sometimes your doctor will order several other blood tests along with this test. In such cases, you may be asked to fast for 8 to 12 hours, with nothing but food and water. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about this.
What happens during the test?
This is just like getting a blood test. It's done in a few minutes.
- A nurse or doctor will select a suitable vein from your arm near your elbow to draw blood.
- That area is cleaned with a disinfectant.
- A small needle is then inserted into the vein and the required amount of blood is collected into a tube. You may feel a slight stinging sensation when the needle is inserted, but it is temporary.
- Once the blood is drawn, the needle is removed, a piece of cotton is placed over the site and pressure is applied. Then a small plaster is applied to the site.
What happens after the test?
After the blood draw, you can go about your normal activities. But the doctor will tell you to keep the plaster on for a few hours. He may also tell you to avoid strenuous exercise that day.
Having your blood drawn is very safe. Most of the time, the area where the needle was inserted may turn slightly blue, which usually goes away on its own in a day or two. Very rarely, the vein may swell a little. If this happens, you can get relief by soaking it in warm water.
How long does it take for the report to arrive? What do the results say?
Because the ANCA test is a specialized test, it can take a few days or a week to get the results. Once the report comes in, your doctor will explain what it means to you.
- If the result is Negative:
This means that you don't have any ANCA autoantibodies in your blood. That means you're very unlikely to have ANCA-associated autoimmune vasculitis. This is good news.
- If the result is Positive:
This means that you have autoantibodies called ANCA in your blood. This indicates that you may have an autoimmune vasculitis disease.
But the most important thing you must remember here is that just because the ANCA test is positive does not 100% confirm that you have vasculitis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will take several other factors into account:
- What are your symptoms?
- What was found during the physical examination?
- What are the results of other blood and urine tests?
- Sometimes, you may be asked to do a biopsy, which involves taking a small piece of tissue from an affected organ and examining it.
So, don't be afraid to think about the report alone. The best person to understand this report is your doctor. He or she will put everything together and come to the most accurate conclusion about your condition.
Take-Home Message
- The ANCA test is a special blood test that detects certain diseases caused by our own immune system, such as vasculitis.
- This is a simple and safe test, just like a regular blood test. It does not require any special preparation.
- Don't worry if the test result is 'positive'. It alone cannot determine whether you have a disease.
- Talk openly with your doctor about your report, what it means, and what to do next. He or she will explain everything to you.
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