New Blood Test Approved for Lupus Diagnosis

On June 13, 2022, the biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced that its two new diagnostic blood tests – one for lupus and one for systemic sclerosis – were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The EliA Rib-P test will help identify lupus by detecting a specific lupus-related antibody in people who are antinuclear antibody (ANA)-negative.

Antinuclear antibodies attack the body’s healthy cells, and they’re typically a hallmark of lupus. Nearly all (97%) of people with lupus are ANA-positive, and doctors often order an ANA blood test if they suspect a patient may have lupus. However, a positive ANA test result alone is not enough to diagnose the disease, and a small percentage of people with lupus are ANA-negative, making other diagnostic tools like the EliA Rib-P test vitally important.

Autoimmune diseases like lupus can be challenging to diagnose, and new, reliable test options can help healthcare providers identify the disease more quickly – ultimately helping people with lupus get the treatment they need sooner and improving clinical outcomes. Learn more about how doctors diagnose lupus.

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