A blood test is used to check antibody levels.
Antibodies, or immunoglobulin, are made by the body in response to bacteria, viruses, cancer or animal dander. Different types of antibodies are found in various parts of your body. Low levels of antibodies could represent problems or diseases depending on the type of antibody in conjunction with other symptoms. An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a specific test that is used to screen for autoimmune disorders, often testing for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A low level of this antibody would suggest that you do not have an autoimmune disease.
Instructions
1. Visit a medical lab and give a blood sample. No matter what type of antibody your physician is testing for, a blood test will have to be performed.
2. Receive your test results from the lab or your physician. After a few days, your results should be ready. Your lab will note if any levels are out of the normal range. Your doctor will read the results and inform you of any problems.
3. Review your IgA antibody levels, if you want to read your own results. Typically, the IgA level would be low if it is below 85 mg per deciliter (mg/dL). Low levels of IgA antibodies could suggest leukemia, kidney disease, intestinal problems or an inherited disease that affects muscle coordination.
4. Evaluate the IgG antibody levels, if your physician tested for these antibodies. The IgG level is normally considered low if the results were below 565 mg/dL. Low levels of this antibody occur in the disease macroglobulinemia. Low levels are also seen in some types of leukemia and kidney disease.
5. Examine the IgM antibodies. If your IgM antibodies are below 55 mg/dL, you have a low level. Again, low levels of this antibody are seen in some types of leukemia. Also, low levels can be noted in multiple myeloma and some other types of immune disease.
6. Review your ANA test results. A negative results means that you have low levels of ANA and likely do not have any autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. If your results list the titers, titers of lower than 1:80 are usually not significant. Five percent of the normal population has some ANAs in their blood even without a disease present. ANA titers of less than or equal to 1:40 are considered negative.
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