How Strong Is Your Immune System? Find Out With a Lab Test

This test is a comprehensive screen for automimmune diseases and includes an antinuclear antibodies (ANA) screen, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha and screens for immunoglobins IgA, IgG and IgM.

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) blood testing is used in the screening of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.

If you are suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, your health practitioner may want to measure antibodies known as rheumatoid factors that target aspects of the joints and the immune system.

Panel includes antibodies to Epstein Barr viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG, Epstein Barr viral capsid antigen IgM and Epstein Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA), which can help identify EBV infection.

Natural killer (NK) cells are selective white blood cells in our immune system that help defend us from infection and/or prevent the progression of disease. This test assesses the number of CD4+ and CD8+ types of NK cells to monitor immune function and more.

Testing for blood levels of IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus can indicate past exposure to the virus, which infects an estimated 60-90% of adults. Chronic infection can have a negative impact on the immune system.

What we commonly refer to as herpes, or HHV-6, is composed of two viruses, HHV-6A and HHV-6B. Testing for the virus's IgG antibody is important since a high value may indicate infection or reactivation.

The T-Lymphocyte Helper/Suppressor Profile blood test measures T-helper (CD4+) cells and cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+) cells, which are types of white blood cells that are important for immune function.

Natural killer (NK) cells are white blood cells in our immune system that help defend us from infection and/or prevent the progression of disease. This test assesses the number of CD3- and CD56+ types of NK cells to monitor immune function and more.

The anti-SS-A/anti-SS-B blood test detects antibodies that help identify the presence of the autoimmune conditions Sjögren's syndrome and lupus with Sjögren overlap syndrome.

Concerned about a herpes infection? This test detects the presence of IgM antibodies to the cytomegalovirus (CMV).

There are six types of group B Coxsackie viruses. Blood testing for antibodies to Coxsackie group B viruses helps identify exposure. Infection has been linked with some potentially serious illnesses.

If you're concerned about herpes exposure, the blood test for human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) IgM antibodies can indicate exposure to or reactivation of HHV-6A or HHV-6B, the viruses that make up HHV-6.