IMPORTANCE OF DETECTION OF SS-A/RO AUTOANTIBODY IN SCREENING IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE TESTS FOR AUTOANTIBODIES TO NUCLEAR ANTIGENS

SS-A/Ro autoantibodies are related to Sjogren's syndrome and to several clinical subsets of lupus erythematosus. The most widely used laboratory procedure for ANA screening is the indirect immunofluorescence test (IF-ANA); the laboratory detection of anti-SS-A/Ro requires implementation and adherence to several technical and quality assurance recommendations. Using appropriate substrate cells containing the SS-A/Ro antigen, many so-called "ANA-negative" lupus erythematosus patients will demonstrate a positive IF-ANA.