Summary4 min read

Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics

Episode 38: Instant Insights – Using ANAlyzeR to Navigate Systemic Autoimmune Disease

Date: May 26, 2026
Host/Speaker: Dr. Mason Latsko

Episode Overview

This short "Instant Insights" podcast focuses on the challenges of diagnosing systemic autoimmune diseases and introduces the ANAlyzeR test—a comprehensive diagnostic panel designed to speed up and clarify the diagnostic process. Dr. Mason Latsko explains why traditional testing often leads to prolonged diagnostic journeys and how ANAlyzeR aims to revolutionize early and accurate identification of autoimmune conditions, helping patients and providers move swiftly toward treatment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Diagnostic Odyssey” of Autoimmune Disease

The journey to a definitive autoimmune disease diagnosis is long and frustrating for many patients.
Quote:
- “On average, it takes about five years and visits to four different doctors before a patient gets a definitive answer.”
  (Dr. Mason Latsko – 00:44)
During this wait, the disease can progress untreated, making management more difficult and outcomes worse.

2. Understanding the ANA Test

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test: The traditional cornerstone of autoimmune testing.
- Looks for antibodies that target cell nuclei—a common marker in diseases like lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and scleroderma.
Autoimmunity Explained:
- “Antibodies are proteins that your immune system creates to identify and neutralize foreign invaders... In autoimmune disease, the immune system becomes confused and produces autoantibodies...”
  (01:15–01:35)
Significance: A positive ANA signals the possibility of an autoimmune condition but is not specific to a single disease.

3. Limitations of Traditional ANAs

A positive ANA is not definitive for autoimmune disease.
- Up to 15% of healthy people or those with non-autoimmune disorders may test positive.
- A negative ANA does not rule out all autoimmune diseases.
Real World Data Insight:
- “Over half of patients with a negative ANA still had other disease specific autoimmune markers.”
  (02:24)
Takeaway: Solely relying on ANA can stall the diagnostic process.

4. Introducing the ANAlyzeR Test

Comprehensive Approach:
- “The key is to look beyond a simple ANA screening and to test for a comprehensive range of disease specific antibodies from the very beginning. This is the power of the ANAlyzeR.”
  (02:45)
How It Works:
- Evaluates 25 autoimmune-associated analytes from one blood draw.
- Not dependent on the initial ANA result.
- Covers eight common systemic autoimmune diseases, including:
  - Rheumatoid arthritis
  - Lupus
  - Sjogren’s syndrome
  - Scleroderma
  - Polymyositis
  - Mixed connective tissue disease
  - Antiphospholipid syndrome
  - Autoimmune thyroid disease
“It helps differentiate between these conditions by testing for their defining marker simultaneously.” (03:30)

5. Disease-Specific Markers and Reflex Testing

Different markers are specific to different autoimmune diseases:
- dsDNA and Smith (lupus)
- CCP and MCV (rheumatoid arthritis)
- SSA and SSB (Sjogren’s syndrome)
“By testing for these and many other markers simultaneously, ANAlyzeR helps differentiate between diseases with overlapping symptoms.” (03:58)
Automatic Reflexes:
- If initial ANA screen is positive, the test provides the titer and staining pattern.
- If dsDNA is positive, it reflexes to a confirmatory test with titer.

6. The Benefits of a Comprehensive Panel

Replaces slow, sequential testing (multiple visits, delays) with upfront answers.
Notable Data Point:
- “Real world data shows that biomarkers associated with two or more autoantibody diseases were detected in nearly 37% of patient samples.”
  (04:47)
This acknowledges that patients often have overlapping or multiple autoimmune disorders, and comprehensive testing uncovers co-occurring conditions.

7. Impact for Patients and Providers

ANAlyzeR brings clarity, ending years of diagnostic uncertainty.
Quote:
- “A comprehensive panel like ANAlyzeR provides not just the answers you’re looking for, but the answers you didn’t know you needed. It’s about replacing years of patient doubt with a clear diagnosis so a clinical plan can finally begin.”
  (05:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“On average, it takes about five years and visits to four different doctors before a patient gets a definitive answer.” (00:44)
“Over half of patients with a negative ANA still had other disease specific autoimmune markers.” (02:24)
“By testing for these and many other markers simultaneously, ANAlyzeR helps differentiate between diseases with overlapping symptoms.” (03:58)
“Biomarkers associated with two or more autoantibody diseases were detected in nearly 37% of patient samples.” (04:47)
“It’s about replacing years of patient doubt with a clear diagnosis so a clinical plan can finally begin.” (05:15)

Key Timestamps

00:44 – Statistics on the long path to diagnosis.
01:15–01:35 – Role of the immune system and autoantibodies explained.
02:24 – Data on negative ANA results and additional marker positivity.
02:45 – Introduction of ANAlyzeR’s comprehensive strategy.
03:30 – List of autoimmune diseases covered.
03:58 – Explanation of disease-specific markers in the panel.
04:47 – Prevalence of multiple autoantibody diseases in patient population.
05:15 – The core promise of ANAlyzeR in speeding up diagnosis and treatment planning.

Tone & Language

Dr. Latsko’s tone is clear, authoritative, and empathetic, emphasizing both the frustration experienced by patients in the diagnostic process and the promise of new, comprehensive diagnostics to provide rapid answers and improve lives.

Conclusion

This episode succinctly highlights the major shortcomings of traditional ANA-first testing for autoimmune diseases and presents Quest Diagnostics’ ANAlyzeR as a transformative solution. By offering simultaneous, disease-specific antibody testing and integrating reflex logic, ANAlyzeR aims to end diagnostic uncertainty and equip clinicians with actionable information earlier in the patient journey.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign welcome to Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics. Our goal is to prompt action from Insight as we keep you up to date on current clinical and diagnostic topics to transform lives and illuminate a path to better health. Welcome to a special episode series called Instant Insights, a podcast episode designed to give you quick and highly impactful clinical pearls in just a few minutes. Dr. I'm Dr. Mason Latsko and today we're tackling the diagnostic odyssey that millions of people face with systemic autoimmune disease. For many, the journey to an autoimmune disease diagnosis is long and frustrating. On average, it takes about five years and visits to four different doctors before a patient gets a definitive answer. And while patients search for answers, the underlying condition continues to progress. In all of that time, the disease gets a head start, making it tougher to treat effectively. The challenge often begins with the first step in testing using the antinuclear antibody, or ana, test. But what exactly is this test measuring, and why is it the cornerstone of autoimmune testing? To understand the ANA test, we first have to talk about antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system creates to identify and neutralize foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. You can think of them as part of your immune system that's constantly on patrol looking for anything that doesn't belong. However, in a patient with autoimmune disease, the immune system becomes confused and produces autoantibodies, or antibodies that mistakenly target the body's own healthy cells. The ANA test looks specifically at a group of antibodies that target the nucleus or the control center for the cell, and this is why it's called antinuclear. So the ANA test is a measure of this misdirected immune attack. A positive result tells us that the body may be creating antibodies against itself, which is a hallmark of many systemic autoimmune diseases like lupus, Sjogren's, and scleroderma. ANA serves as a critical red flag, signaling that a deeper investigation is needed. The problem is a positive ANA isn't the full story. Up to 15% of healthy people and people with non autoimmune disorders can have a positive ANA test, and it doesn't tell you which specific disease might be present. Additionally, real world data from over 111,000 patients revealed that over half of patients with a negative ANA still had other disease specific autoimmune markers. And this is where the diagnostic journey can stall. So how do we get answers faster? The key is to look beyond a simple ANA screening and to test for a comprehensive range of disease specific antibodies from the very beginning. This is the power of the Analyzer. Test Analyzer is a comprehensive panel that evaluates 25 autoimmune disease associated analytes from a single blood draw, regardless of the initial ANA test. From the 25 analytes you get a comprehensive profile designed to help you diagnose eight common autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma polymyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, antiphospholipid syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disease. It helps differentiate between these conditions by testing for their defining marker simultaneously. And this approach is critical because different autoantibodies are highly specific to different diseases. For example, DSDNA and Smith antibodies are highly specific for lupus. CCP and MCV antibodies are key markers for rheumatoid arthritis. SSA and SSB antibodies are strongly associated with Sjogren's syndrome. By testing for these and many other markers simultaneously, Analyzer helps differentiate between diseases with overlapping symptoms. It also includes standard necessary reflexes to give you a more complete clinical picture from the start. For example, if the initial ANA screen is positive, the test automatically reflexes to provide the titer and staining pattern. If the DSDNA antibody screening is positive, it automatically reflexes to a confirmatory Cartheidia IFA test to provide a titer. This built in logic means that instead of a slow sequential test process that requires multiple visits, Analyzer provides a full picture view up front. And this is especially important considering that many patients suffer from more than one autoimmune condition. Real world data shows that Biomarkers associated with two or more autoantibody diseases were detected in nearly 37% of patient samples. And this tells us that the diagnostic journey for patients with autoimmune conditions is rarely a straight line. A comprehensive panel like Analyzer provides not just the answers you're looking for, but the answers you didn't know you needed. It's about replacing years of patient doubt with a clear diagnosis so a clinical plan can finally begin. That's a wrap on this episode of Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics. Please follow us on your favorite podcast app and be sure to check out Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education center for more resources, including educational webinars and research publications. Thank you for joining us today as we work to create a healthier world one life at a time.