Laboratory tests - anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)
What it is and why it matters
- IgG autoantibody against double-stranded DNA - one of the two highly specific antibodies in SLE (with anti-Sm)
- *The only routine lupus antibody that TRACKS DISEASE ACTIVITY - and the one tied to lupus nephritis*
- Assays differ, and the difference matters:
| Assay | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence (CLIFT) | *Most SPECIFIC* - the kinetoplast is pure dsDNA with no protein contamination |
| Farr radioimmunoassay | Detects high-avidity antibodies; best correlation with nephritis and activity |
| ELISA / multiplex | Most SENSITIVE, used for screening; picks up low-avidity antibodies -> more false positives |
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