This panel contains the following tests:

• Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Screen
• A primary test to help evaluate a person for autoimmune diseases
• Cardiac C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP/Cardiac CRP)
• Elevated CRP is an indication of inflammation throughout your body
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFa)
• A cytokine involved in the inflammatory process; it’s primary role is to regulate immune cells
• Immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM

Sample Report

People experience initial symptoms that are often intermittent and unspecific until a disease becomes acute. This is why it is so important to identify an autoimmune disease early while there is still time to intervene. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that up to 23.5 million Americans are living with an autoimmune disease. In comparison, cancer affects up to 9 million and heart disease up to 22 million. Researchers have identified 80-100 different autoimmune diseases and suspect at least 40 additional diseases of having an autoimmune basis.³ These diseases are chronic and can be life-threatening. In fact, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases seems to be increasing and is one of the top 10 causes of death in women up to 64 years of age.³

Instructions

Fasting is not required. Take all medications as prescribed.

References

1. Lo M, et al "Hypergammaglobulinemia in the pediatric population as a marker for underlying autoimmune disease: a retrospective cohort study". Pediatr Rheumatol 2013; DOI:10.1186/1546-0096-11-42.
2. Available at: http://www.microbiologybook.org/mobile/m.immuno-4.htm Accessed March 2015.
3. Available at: http://www.aarda.org/autoimmune-information/autoimmune-statistics/ Accessed March 2015.