| Summary: | Introduction: Autoimmune diseases as a group affect about 5-8 % of the population and are more frequent in female. Many of them have a connection to autoantibodies that are non-organ specific and are therefore directed against the molecules that are found more or less in all cells of the human body, including nuclear and intracellular cytoplasm molecules. Examples of these diseases are mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) screen test is an indirect immunofluorescence assay that is used to screen for autoantibodies against nuclear and intracellular cytoplasm molecules. Test results may help with the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. The ANA screen test was originally performed on a cryocut of rodent tissue as a substrate, but in the past three or four decades it has mostly been replaced by HEp-2 cells and later on HEp-2000 cells. At the Department of Immunology, Landspítali -The National University Hospital of Iceland a cryocut of rodent tissue is still used as a substrate. Objectives: To compare HEp-2000 cells and rodent tissue as substrates for ANA testing on chosen cohort. Evaluate antibody concentration and ANA patterns on both HEp-2000 cells and rodent tissue. Further analysis of data from 195 individuals, where ANA screen test results were compared to existing diagnosis and specific symptoms. Material and methods: Three hundred samples (cohort A) from hospitals and clinics with request for ANA screening test arriving at Department of Immunology in September 2013. ANA screen test using HEp-2000 cells was performed on all samples and ENA screen test and/or dsDNA (EliA) if appropriate. Further analysis of data from 195 individuals (cohort B), that were selected based on ANA and ENA screen test results, coming from outpatient clinic of Departments of Rheumatology and Immunology at Landspitali to the Department of Immunology during the years 2008-2010. Results: There is a significant correlation between both ...
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