What Is Anca Test?

This ANCA test checks for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in your bloodstream. Antibodies are proteins and are produced by the immune system to fight against foreign particles like viruses and bacteria. But ANCA antibodies kill wholesome blood cells called neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) by mistake. As a result, you may suffer from autoimmune vasculitis. Autoimmune vasculitis is responsible for inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels.

Blood vessels transport blood from your heart to various organs, tissues, and other systems, and vice-versa. Common types of blood vessels are arteries, veins, and capillaries. Inflammation in the blood vessels may lead to some serious health issues.

There are two prime types of ANCA. Each attacks a specific protein inside white blood cells:

• pANCA (targets a protein called MPO (myeloperoxidase)
• cANCA (targets a protein called PR3, proteinase 3)

The test will help your doctor to know whether you have one or both types of antibodies. Based on your results, he may diagnose and opts for the best treatment for your disorder.

The cost of the ANCA test in India is Rs. 1600 to Rs.1800, depending on your location and place.

Please check the price of the ANCA test in Delhi/NCR, your nearby centers and other details.

Test Summary of ANCA Test

Top 4 Objective of ANCA Test

The prime objective of this ANCA blood test is to check what type of autoimmune vasculitis you have. This disorder has various types and each of them will cause inflammation and swelling of blood vessels. But each affects different blood vessels and organs of the body. Types of autoimmune vasculitis include,

• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA):  Earlier it was called Wegener’s disease. This affects your lungs, kidneys, and sinuses.
• Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA): This disorder may affect numerous organs of your body, including the lungs, kidneys, nervous system, and skin.
• Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): Earlier it was called Churg-Strauss syndrome which primarily affects the skin and lungs. This disorder often leads to asthma.
• Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN): This disorder commonly impacts your heart, kidneys, skin, and central nervous system.

Why Do You Need This ANCA Test?

Your doctor may order this test if you have symptoms of autoimmune vasculitis. Symptoms could be,

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Muscle or joint aches

These symptoms may affect one or more specific organs in your body. Commonly affected organs are,

1. Eyes

• Redness
• Blurred vision
• Loss of vision

2. Ears

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Hearing loss

3. Sinuses

• Sinus pain
• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Nose bleeds

4. Skin

• Rashes
• Sores or deep ulcers that can’t heal easily

5. Lungs

• Cough
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain

6. Kidneys

• Blood in the urine
• Foamy urine

7. Nervous System

Numbness and tingling in different parts of the body

The Preparation for the ANCA Test

You don’t need any preparations for this test. But inform your doctor if you are taking any medications or supplements,

Procedure of ANCA Test

• Once you reach your nearby lab or hospital, a nurse or technician will draw a blood sample from the vein of your upper arm.
• After identifying the vein, he will clean the area with an antiseptic
• Then the person will insert a needle into your vein to collect your blood sample.
• A small amount of blood deposited in a test tube
• After removing the needle, he will place a bandage over the site.
• The entire procedure gets completed within five minutes.

Interpretation of the Results of ANCA Test

• If your results were negative, then these indicate that your symptoms are not due to autoimmune vasculitis.
• If your results were positive, this implies you have autoimmune vasculitis. It can also show if cANCAs or pANCAs were found. Through this test, your doctor may know what type of vasculitis you have.

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend some additional tests to diagnose the disease.

If you are getting treatment for autoimmune vasculitis, the results will show whether your treatment is working properly or not.