What does equivocal test mean for an ANA test?

Question

I got an ANA test to find if I had alopecia and the test came back equivocal is this bad, what does it mean should I worry I am getting retested in a month.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

You'll want to have a good discussion with the doctor who ordered the test. Generally, what one does with an equivocal test result depends on the pretest probability of disease. In other words, if the doctor who really ordered the test thinks a patient has an autoimmune disease, then a result of an equivocal test means more testing is done. If the doctor does not really think the patient has an autoimmune test or if the test was just ordered as part of a series of tests that were ordered for no particularly good reason, then no further testing is usually needed.  Far too often autoimmune tests are ordered in hair loss patients without a good reason (low pretest probability). This creates confusion when results come back equivocal. In summary, talk to your doctor. If there is no suspicion of autoimmune disease based on your scalp examination, detailed medical history and results of other blood tests (liver tests, kidney tests, CBC), then usually no further testing is done.

E. Ronald Finger, MD · Answer

An ANA equivocal test for alopecia basically means very little. As a practical matter, if you are losing hair, you have alopecia. There are various forms of alopecia, and the most common one for men is male pattern baldness. For females, it female pattern baldness. Your best choice is to consult with a specialist in hair restoration to see what you have and what can be done regardless of what the results of the ANA test shows.Your choices are: PRP (platelet rich plasma), hair transplant, minoxidil, Propecia, BioSil, and there are other measures as well.  Thank you for your question, and good luck.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

An ANA test is a test perform for such diseases as Lupus, an autoimmune disease so I suspect that your doctor is looking for some autoimmune disease. Why not ask him/her why the test was ordered?

What does equivocal test mean for an ANA test?

Answers (3)

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