Diagnosing Lupus today is easier than it has ever been in the past. In fact, most cases are diagnosed with a Lupus blood test. Doctor’s simply take a small portion of blood from the patient and perform five different tests on the sample.
The first test that most doctors will use when checking for lupus is a antinuclear antibody. This test is fairly cheap and is generally referred to as the screening test for lupus. It has a history of being correct upwards of 90 per cent of the time. Therefore, it is usually the first step in diagnosing lupus.
One of the most specific and accurate lupus blood test is the DNA antibodies. It is not know exactly why, but is has been proven that antibodies against double-stranded DNA almost entirely proves a case of lupus. The reasons that it is so accurate are that this is very rarely found in other illnesses. If this blood test says that the patient has lupus, then it is almost one hundred per cent.
On top of all the tests that doctors perform, they will usually order general blood tests as well. From a simple blood test, a doctor will be able to get a good idea of whether or not someone has lupus. People who suffer from this illness will usually have a lower white blood cell count than healthy people. Low red cells and low platelet counts are also an indication of lupus. If you have been diagnosed with lupus, then you will probably have to continue having regular blood tests throughout the course of the illness.
However, that certainly does not mean that you cannot live a normal life if you have been diagnosed with lupus. Although regular visits to your doctor will be a part of your life, you can still lead a happy and productive life.