Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A complete blood count (CBC) is a common blood test that measures the different cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, to help evaluate your overall health.

The Nuclear Ab (Antinuclear Antibody) test is a blood test that detects the presence of antinuclear antibodies in your serum. These are antibodies that mistakenly target the nuclei of your own cells. The test uses immunofluorescence techniques to identify these antibodies and determine their concentration (titer) and staining pattern.

Your doctor may order a CBC as part of a routine checkup or to help diagnose conditions such as anemia, infection, inflammation, or bleeding disorders, and to monitor how a treatment or ongoing medical condition is progressing.

Your healthcare provider may order this test if you have symptoms of an autoimmune disorder such as joint pain, fatigue, fever, skin rashes, or muscle weakness. It is commonly used to help diagnose conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, and other autoimmune conditions.

A small sample of blood is drawn from a vein in your arm, usually on the inside of the elbow. The procedure takes only a few minutes, causes minimal discomfort, and you can return to your normal activities right afterward.

A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. The blood is then sent to a laboratory where it is processed using immunofluorescence techniques. The serum is mixed with cell substrates, and if antinuclear antibodies are present, they will bind to the cell nuclei. A fluorescent dye is added to visualize these antibody-antigen complexes under a microscope.

Your report will list the levels of each blood cell type along with the reference ranges used by the laboratory. Values outside the normal range may point to conditions such as anemia or infection, and your healthcare provider will explain what your specific results mean and whether any follow-up is needed.

Results are typically reported as a titer (such as 1:40, 1:160, 1:320) and a staining pattern (such as homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar, or centromere). A positive result means antinuclear antibodies were detected in your blood. However, a positive result does not automatically mean you have a disease—some healthy individuals, especially older adults, may have low levels of ANA. Your healthcare provider will interpret your results along with your symptoms and other test findings.