Anti-dsDNA

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Also Known As:
Antibody to ds-DNA Native double-stranded DNA Antibody anti-DNA Double stranded DNA Antibody

Formal Name:
Anti-double-stranded DNA
IgG

This article was last modified on November 9, 2021

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Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

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At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To help diagnose and monitor lupus, also called systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly targets the body’s own cells and tissues.

When To Get Tested?

When you have a positive ANA test and signs and symptoms associated with lupus, such as persistent fatigue, pain in your joints and a red rash resembling a butterfly across the nose and cheeks; periodically used to assess disease activity in those who have been diagnosed with lupus

Sample Required?

A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm

Test Preparation Needed?

None

Looking For Test Results?

Looking For Reference Ranges?

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Testing.com is an award-winning patient education website offering information on laboratory tests. The content on the site, which has been reviewed by laboratory scientists and other medical professionals, provides general explanations of what results might mean for each test listed on the site, such as what a high or low value might suggest to your healthcare practitioner about your health or medical condition.

The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results.

If you do not have your lab report, consult your healthcare provider or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range.

Laboratory test results are not meaningful by themselves. Their meaning comes from comparison to reference ranges. Reference ranges are the values expected for a healthy person. They are sometimes called “normal” values. By comparing your test results with reference values, you and your healthcare provider can see if any of your test results fall outside the range of expected values. Values that are outside expected ranges can provide clues to help identify possible conditions or diseases.

While accuracy of laboratory testing has significantly evolved over the past few decades, some lab-to-lab variability can occur due to differences in testing equipment, chemical reagents, and techniques. This is a reason why so few reference ranges are provided on this site. It is important to know that you must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are “within normal limits.”

For more information, please read the article Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Anti-double stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA) is one of a group of autoantibodies called antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Normally, antibodies protect against infection, but autoantibodies are produced when a person’s immune system fails to adequately distinguish between “self” and “non-self.” They mistakenly attack the body’s own healthy cells, causing tissue and organ damage. Anti-dsDNA specifically targets the genetic material (DNA) found in the nucleus of a cell, hence the name “anti-dsDNA.” The anti-dsDNA test identifies the presence of these autoantibodies in the blood.

While anti-dsDNA may be present at a low level with a number of disorders, it is primarily associated with lupus. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that can affect various tissues and/or organs of the body such as the kidneys, joints, blood vessels, skin, heart, lungs, and the brain. The test for anti-dsDNA, along with other autoantibody tests, may be used to help establish a diagnosis of lupus and distinguish it from other autoimmune disorders.

One serious complication of lupus is lupus nephritis, a condition marked by inflammation of the kidneys, which can lead to protein in the urine, high blood pressure, and kidney failure. It occurs when autoantibodies bind to antigens that have been deposited in the kidneys. In the evaluation of someone with lupus nephritis, a high level (titer) of anti-dsDNA is generally associated with ongoing inflammation and damage to the kidneys.

Common Questions

How is the test used?

The anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) test is used to help diagnose lupus in a person who has a positive result on a test for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and has clinical signs and symptoms that suggest lupus.

Typically, an ANA test is the first test performed to evaluate an individual for an autoimmune disorder. While a positive ANA test is seen in about 95% of lupus cases, it may be seen in many other conditions as well. The anti-dsDNA test is fairly specific for lupus; however, only 65-85% of people with lupus may be positive; that is, a negative anti-dsDNA does not rule out lupus. If a person has a positive ANA, an anti-dsDNA test may be used to distinguish lupus from other autoimmune disorders that have similar signs and symptoms.

An anti-dsDNA test may be ordered along with a test for anti-Sm (Smith antibody), another antinuclear autoantibody associated with lupus, to help establish a diagnosis. The anti-Sm test may be ordered as part of an extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) panel. Depending upon clinical signs and the healthcare practitioner’s suspicions, other autoantibodies may also be ordered to help distinguish between, and rule out, other autoimmune disorders. Examples include tests for histone antibody (drug-induced lupus) and antiphospholipid antibodies.

The anti-dsDNA test may be used to assess disease activity in a person who has been diagnosed with lupus. Those with lupus often have flare-ups in which symptoms worsen and then subside. An increased anti-dsDNA level may be seen prior to and during these flare-ups. In particular, this test may be used to monitor lupus nephritis, a serious complication of lupus that can cause kidney damage and inflammation. This can lead to protein in the urine, high blood pressure, and kidney failure. It occurs when the autoantibodies bind to antigens that have been deposited in the kidneys.

When is it ordered?

An anti-dsDNA test is ordered when a person shows signs and symptoms that could be due to lupus and has had a positive ANA test, especially when the result of the ANA test presents as a “homogeneous” or “speckled” fluorescent pattern.

Examples of some signs and symptoms of lupus include:

Muscle pain
Arthritis-like pain in one or more joints (but no or little joint damage)
Red rash that frequently resembles a butterfly across the nose and cheek areas (malar rash)
Low-grade fever
Persistent fatigue, weakness
Skin sensitivity to light
Hair and weight loss
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Inflammation and damage to organs and tissues, including the kidneys, lungs, heart, lining of the heart, central nervous system, and blood vessels

The anti-dsDNA test may be ordered periodically to monitor progress of the disease or flare-ups in a person who has been diagnosed with lupus. It may be repeated when an initial test result is negative but clinical signs and symptoms persist and lupus is strongly suspected.

What does the test result mean?

The results of an anti-dsDNA test are usually considered together with a person’s medical history, signs and symptoms, and results of other autoantibody tests.

A high level of anti-dsDNA in the blood is strongly associated with lupus and is often significantly increased during or just prior to a flare-up. When the anti-dsDNA is positive and the person tested has other clinical signs and symptoms associated with lupus, it means that the person tested likely has lupus. This is especially true if an anti-Sm test is also positive.

In the evaluation of someone with lupus nephritis, a high level (titer) of anti-dsDNA is generally associated with ongoing inflammation and damage to the kidneys.

A very low level of anti-dsDNA is considered negative but does not exclude a diagnosis of lupus. Only about 65-85% of those with lupus will have anti-dsDNA.

Low to moderate levels of the autoantibody may be seen with other autoimmune disorders, such as Sjögren syndrome and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

Is there anything else I should know?

Anti-dsDNA tests may be performed using different assays. Many laboratories use an anti-dsDNA ELISA test (enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay), but other methods may also be used.

Anti-dsDNA is sometimes present with diseases such as chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and infectious mononucleosis. It may also be seen in those taking drugs such as procainamide and hydralazine. It is not usually tested or monitored under these conditions.

In addition to testing for anti-double-stranded DNA, there is also an anti-single-stranded DNA (anti-ssDNA) test. This autoantibody is less commonly tested and is not strongly associated with lupus but may be seen with other autoimmune disorders.

ANA consists of a group of antinuclear antibodies. If an ANA test is negative, it indicates that the entire group is negative. Since anti-dsDNA is a member of this group, it does not need to be ordered separately when an ANA test is negative.

Why might it take a long time to be diagnosed with lupus?

A healthcare practitioner must rely not only test results, but on clinical symptoms and the person’s history for a diagnosis. Symptoms may be nonspecific and often come and go. Test results may not initially be positive for some of these autoantibodies due to the cyclic nature of autoimmune disorders. In some cases, it may take months or years to show a pattern that might suggest lupus or any of the other autoimmune diseases.

If I have been diagnosed with lupus, will it ever go away?

There is no cure for lupus, but the symptoms and complications can be managed. Most people with the condition will experience flare-ups, but most will also have periods of few or mild symptoms.

Will my anti-dsDNA ever go away?

No, once the autoantibody has been produced by the body, it will continue to be present. However, the concentration in the blood will vary over time and can be present at very low levels.

Is there anything I can do to affect my anti-dsDNA level?

Autoantibodies do not respond to lifestyle changes because they reflect the presence and severity of an autoimmune process.

Can the anti-dsDNA test be performed at my healthcare practitioner's office?

The test requires specialized equipment. Your sample will need to be sent to a laboratory that performs these tests.

Health Professionals – LOINC

regesnstrief logo LOINC Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®) is the international standard for identifying health measurements, observations, and documents. It provides a common language to unambiguously identify things you can measure or observe that enables the exchange and aggregation of clinical results for care delivery, outcomes management, and research. Learn More.

Listed in the table below are the LOINC with links to the LOINC detail pages. Please note when you click on the hyperlinked code, you are leaving Testing.com and accessing Loinc.org.

LOINC	LOINC Display Name
33799-8	DNA double strand IgG IA Qn
33800-4	DNA double strand IgG Qn (S)
63379-2	DNA double strand IgG Ql (S)
58465-6	DNA double strand IgG IA Ql (S)
63381-8	DNA double strand IgG (S) [Titer]
58466-4	DNA double strand IgG IF Crithidia luciliae (S) [Titer]
5130-0	DNA double strand Ab Qn (S)
47299-3	DNA double strand Ab Farr method Qn (S)
32677-7	DNA double strand Ab IA Qn (S)
54910-5	DNA double strand Ab IF Qn (S)
42200-6	DNA double strand Ab RIA Qn (S)
37993-3	DNA double strand Ab RIA (S) [Mass/Vol]
31348-6	DNA double strand Ab Ql (S)
6457-6	DNA double strand Ab IF Crithidia luciliae Ql (S)
12277-0	DNA double strand Ab Farr method Ql (S)
5131-8	DNA double strand Ab IF Ql (S)
81716-3	DNA double strand Ab Line blot Ql (S)
11013-0	DNA double strand Ab (S) [Titer]
34187-5	DNA double strand Ab IF Crithidia luciliae (S) [Titer]

View Sources

Sources Used in Current Review

American College of Rheumatology. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Available online at: https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Antinuclear-Antibodies-ANA. Accessed on March 23, 2018.

Mayo Medical Laboratories. Test ID: ADNA- DNA Double-Stranded (dsDNA) Antibodies, IgG, Serum. Available online at https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8178. Accessed on March 27, 2018.

Petri M, Orbai A, Alarcon GS, et al. Derivation and validation of Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 August ; 64(8): 2677–2686. doi:10.1002/art.34473. Available online at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409311/pdf/nihms-365115.pdf. Accessed on March 27, 2018.

Lupus Research Alliance. ANA testing. Available online at https://www.lupusresearch.org/understanding-lupus/diagnosis-and-treatment/ana-testing/. Accessed on March 27, 2018.

Fu SM, Dai C, Zhao Z and Gaskin F. Anti-dsDNA Antibodies are one of the many autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus [version 1; referees: 2 approved] F1000Research 2015, 4(F1000 Faculty Rev):939 (doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6875.1). Available online at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4648223/pdf/f1000research-4-7402.pdf. Accessed on March 27, 2018.

Sources Used in Previous Reviews

(© 1995-2011). Unit Code 8178: DNA Double-Stranded (ds-DNA) Antibodies, IgG, Serum. Mayo Clinic, Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/8178. Accessed February 2011.

(© 2011). Laboratory Tests for Lupus. Lupus Foundation of America [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learndiagnosing.aspx?articleid=2242&zoneid=524. Accessed February 2011.

Bartels, C. and Muller, D. (Updated 2010 November 16). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. eMedicine [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-overview. Accessed February 2011.

Hill, H. and Tebo, A. (Updated 2009 November). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – SLE. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/SLE.html?client_ID=LTD#tabs=0. Accessed February 2011.

(© 2008 – 2011). Double-Stranded DNA (dsDNA) Antibody, IgG by ELISA with Reflex to dsDNA Antibody, IgG by IFA : 0050215. ARUP’s Laboratory Test Directory [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0050215.jsp. Accessed February 2011.

Isenberg, D. et. al. (2007 May 11). Fifty years of anti-ds DNA antibodies: are we approaching journey’s end? Rheumatology (2007) 46 (7): 1052-1056 [On-line information]. Available online at http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/46/7/1052.full. Accessed February 2011.

Hajj-ali, R. (Revised 2008 February). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec04/ch032/ch032g.html?qt=anti double-stranded DNA&alt=sh. Accessed February 2011.

(2007). Buhl, A. et. al. Novel Biosensor–Based Analytic Device for the Detection of Anti–Double-Stranded DNA Antibodies. Clinical Chemistry 53 (2) 334–341 [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/53/2/334. Accessed February 2011.

Peter, J. and Blum, R. (© 1998–2011). Double-Stranded DNA Autoantibodies. Specialty Laboratories, Use & Interpretation of Laboratory Tests Books [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.specialtylabs.com/books/display.asp?id=660. Accessed February 2011.

(March 21, 2011) Brent L. Lupus Nephritis. eMedicine article. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/330369-overview. Accessed April 2011.

Mehra, S. and Fritzler, M (2014 April 03). The Spectrum of Anti-Chromatin/Nucleosome Autoantibodies: Independent and Interdependent Biomarkers of Disease. J Immunol Res. 2014; 2014: 368274. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3996305/. Accessed August 2014.

(© 1995–2014). DNA Double-Stranded (dsDNA) Antibodies, IgG, Serum. Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/8178. Accessed August 2014.

Bartels, C. and Muller, D. (Updated 2014 February 19). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-overview. Accessed August 2014.

Tebo, A. (Updated 2014 March). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – SLE. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/SLE.html?client_ID=LTD. Accessed August 2014.

Femia, A. et. al. (Updated 2014 March 18). Neonatal and Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1006582-overview. Accessed August 2014.

Bonella, F and Costabel, U. (2014 ). Biomarkers in Connective Tissue Disease-associated Interstitial Lung Disease. Medscape Multispecialty from Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;35(1):181-200 [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822878. Accessed August 2014.

Boggs, W. (2014 February 07). Progression From Cutaneous to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus May Not Involve Systemic Symptoms. Medscape Multispecialty [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/820266. Accessed August 2014.

Villalta, D. (2013 August 12). Anti-dsDNA Antibody Isotypes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: IgA in Addition to IgG Anti-dsDNA Help to Identify Glomerulonephritis and Active Disease. PLoS One. 2013; 8(8): e71458. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3741383/. Accessed August 2014.

Stevens CD. Autoimmunity. (2002) In Clinical Immunology and Serology, 2nd edition. FA Davis:Philadelphia. Chapter 14.

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