From ANA-screening to antigen-specificity: an EASI-survey on the daily practice in European countries

One of the main goals of the European Autoimmunity Standardisation Initiative (EASI) is the harmonisation of test-algorithms for autoantibodies related to systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). A questionnaire was used to gather information on methodology, interpretation, and the algorithm f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2014-07, Vol.32 (4), p.539-546
Main Authors: Damoiseaux, Jan, Agmon-Levin, Nancy, Van Blerk, Marjan, Chopyak, Valentyna, Eriksson, Catharina, Heijnen, Ingmar, Herold, Manfred, Høgåsen, Kolbjorn, Musset, Lucile, Radice, Antonella, Rego de Sousa, Maria Jose, Viander, Markku, Shoenfeld, Yehuda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
algorithm
Algorithms
anti-nuclear antibodies
Antibodies, Antinuclear - blood
Autoimmune Diseases - blood
Autoimmune Diseases - diagnosis
Autoimmune Diseases - immunology
Biomarkers - blood
Europe
extractable nuclear antigens
harmonisation
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Laboratories - standards
Laboratory Proficiency Testing
Observer Variation
Practice Patterns, Physicians' - standards
Predictive Value of Tests
Reproducibility of Results
Rheumatic Diseases - blood
Rheumatic Diseases - diagnosis
Rheumatic Diseases - immunology
Rheumatology - standards
Serologic Tests - standards
Surveys and Questionnaires
systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases
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Summary:One of the main goals of the European Autoimmunity Standardisation Initiative (EASI) is the harmonisation of test-algorithms for autoantibodies related to systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). A questionnaire was used to gather information on methodology, interpretation, and the algorithm for detection of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in relation to their antigen-specificity. The questionnaire was sent to 1200 laboratories in 12 European countries. The response rate was 47.2%. The results reveal not only apparent differences between countries, but also within countries. Awareness of these differences may as such already stimulate harmonisation, but the observed differences may also direct recommendations that may further contribute to achieving the EASI goal of harmonisation of autoimmune diagnostics for SARD.
ISSN:0392-856X
1593-098X