Why is the ENA Blood Test Ordered?
The ENA blood test is ordered when there are signs of an auto-immune disorder. Some of the auto-immune disorders which are screened for include mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and lupus. The test is usually given after a positive result on the ANA blood test. The ANA, or antinuclear antibody test, screens for proteins that are present when the immune system fails to distinguish the body from foreign particles. The symptoms which prompt a doctor to order an ENA blood test arise from the tissue and cellular damage caused by the immune system. Usually, the symptoms include inflammation of organs, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue.
