Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Group (ANA,AMA,ASMA)

Specimen Required

3-5cc Clotted Blood or Serum

Fasting Required

Purpose of the Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Group (ANA,AMA,ASMA) Test

To help diagnose primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

When this Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Group (ANA,AMA,ASMA) test is required

The AMA or AMA-M2 test is requested when your doctor suspects that you have an autoimmune disorder such as PBC. You may have symptoms such as tiredness (fatigue), jaundice and itchiness, but many patients affected with early PBC have no symptoms. The condition is often initially identified because a patient has elevated levels of enzymes which come from the liver and indicated that it is diseased. The enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP), is often elevated and this is found during routine blood tests.An AMA or AMA-M2 test may be requested with or following a variety of tests that are used to help diagnose and/or rule out other causes of liver disease or injury. These causes can include infections, such as viral hepatitis, drugs, alcohol abuse, toxins, genetic conditions, metabolic conditions, and autoimmune hepatitis.

What the Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Group (ANA,AMA,ASMA) Test Detects

This test measures whether antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are present in the blood. Moderate or high levels of AMA are strongly associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). PBC is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts inside the liver, causing continual liver damage and blockage of the bile flow. It is found most frequently in women between the ages of 35 and 60. More than 90% of…This test measures whether antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are present in the blood. Moderate or high levels of AMA are strongly associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). PBC is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts inside the liver, causing continual liver damage and blockage of the bile flow. It is found most frequently in women between the ages of 35 and 60. More than 90% of those affected by PBC will have high levels of antimitochondrial antibodies. Increased AMA levels are seen much less often in autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver disease due to chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and bile duct obstruction. There are nine types of AMA (M1 – M9) of which M2 isthe most clinically valuable. M2 antibodies target the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The presence of the M2 type has been particularly evident in primary biliary cholangitis, while the other AMA types may be found in other conditions. In some laboratories, if testing for AMA is positive, then further tests for the M2 subtype is performed. Some laboratories have started to offer the AMA-M2 test instead of the AMA, which reduces the number of false positives from non-M2 antibodies. See MoreSee Less

Preparation for the Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Group (ANA,AMA,ASMA) Test

No test preparation is needed

Sample Requirements

A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm

Additional Notes

By themselves, AMA and AMA-M2 can not be used to diagnose PBC, but in conjunction with other laboratory tests and clinical symptoms, a diagnosis of PBC can be made. When high levels of AMA or AMA-M2 are present and the doctor suspects PBC, a liver biopsy may be performed to look for the signs of primary biliary cholangitis in the liver tissue. Imaging scans of the liver may also be used to look for bile duct obstruction.About 50% of the cases of PBC will be discovered before the patient has noticeable symptoms.

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