Retrospective evalution of the results of antinuclearantibody working with the indirectimumfluorescent method

In this study, the ANA results of 8957 patients who were requested to have ANA ( Anti-nuclear Antibody) test from the serum samples of the patients who came to Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Medical Faculty Hospital Microbiology Department Laboratory between 2018-2021 were retrospectively analyzed by IIF ( Indirect Immunofluorescence method) analyzed in two steps. In the first step , all patients were evaluated by gender, age, outpatient clinic and general positive-negative results and in the second step, only positive samples among themselves according to the pattern diversity;were examined in detail in terms of gender, age, and outpatient clinic. A total of 8957 patients, 6050 (67,54%) female and 2907 (32,46%) male, were found to have ANA positive in 2919 (33%) and negative ANA results in 6038 (67%) patients. In general, the patient age group with the highest number of ANA requests was found to be 35-49 ages and the most frequent positivity was seen in women. In general, ıt was determined that the highest number of ANA requests were from the Internal Diseases outpatient clinic with a rate of 2971 (33,2%) compared to outpatient clinics. In the distribution of positivity rates according to clinics, the highest rate of positivity was seen in the Rheumatology clinic with a rate of 1014 (38,1%). Among the patterns, the spotted pattern ranked first with a rate of 1245 (13,9%) in both sexes, all age groups and samples from all outpatient clinics. This was followed by dense fine mottled patterns, homogeneous pattern and the centromere pattern. Unnecessary ANA testing led to increase in healthcare costs and it is thought such these testing procedures should mostly be done by clinically relevant departments. KEYWORDS: Antinuclear Antibody (ANA), Indirect Immunofluorescence Method (IIF), pattern, antibody, Autoimmune Disease (AID),