AVISE CTD Lupus Test: Be More Certain About Diagnosis

Like many people with lupus symptoms, you may wonder, is it lupus, or could I have another autoimmune disorder? Finding an answer can be challenging because lupus causes symptoms similar to those of many other diseases, including other autoimmune diseases.¹ The innovative AVISE^® CTD lupus test can help your provider more accurately determine whether you have lupus so you can start treatment earlier.

Providers may use several blood tests to check for antibodies commonly found in lupus,² but these tests miss a significant number of patients or result in too many false positives. AVISE CTD uses patented biomarkers—molecules associated with particular diseases³—and an algorithm to provide more actionable diagnostic information than other lab tests. Our lupus blood test can help your provider diagnose lupus with greater certainty and rule out other autoimmune disorders.

The Challenge of Diagnosing Lupus

Because no one test can provide definitive answers, providers use several sources of information to diagnose lupus. These include a physical exam, medical history, family history of autoimmune disease and blood tests.⁴ Together, these data points help your provider determine whether you have lupus and how best to treat you.²

Several methods of testing for lupus involve the measurement of antibodies made by your immune system that attack cells and tissues due to this condition. One of the most common forms of antibody testing for lupus is the antinuclear antibody, or ANA, test. This test measures the levels of ANAs, which are a group of antibodies that attaches to the nucleus of your cells. Almost all people with lupus have a positive ANA test, but this test result alone isn’t enough for a diagnosis because many other autoimmune conditions also result in the formation of ANAs—symptoms and other test results also factor in.⁴

Other blood tests for lupus include a complete blood count, anti-double stranded DNA, anti-Smith antibodies, complement components (C3 and C4) and tests to detect abnormal blood clotting.^{2, 4} Unfortunately, many antibody tests have significant gaps. Too often, they fail to detect lupus in people who have it, or they produce too many false positives, creating uncertainty for you and your physician. The AVISE CTD test for lupus can help fill gaps in testing.

How Our Lupus Test Works

AVISE CTD is transforming how providers diagnose lupus and other autoimmune diseases. How? Providers rely, in part, on autoimmune disease tests that detect and measure specific biomarkers associated with these diseases. AVISE CTD is the only diagnostic test that uses patented lupus biomarkers called Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products.

Lupus causes inflammation in various parts of the body.⁵ Researchers have learned that the body activates proteins called complement proteins in response to proteins and organisms, like viruses or other germs, that your immune system recognizes as a threat. In lupus, your immune system loses some of its ability to recognize the difference between your healthy cells and tissues and potentially harmful germs. As a result, your immune system, including the complement system, becomes overactive leading to inflammation and damage to health cells and tissues. The AVISE CTD test measures biomarkers of complement protein activation that are specific to lupus.

Those aren’t the only biomarkers featured in our lupus blood test. The AVISE CTD test also measures biomarkers associated with other autoimmune diseases with symptoms similar to lupus, including:

Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS)
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease)
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome

An algorithm can help you and your provider better understand your likelihood of having lupus and rule out other autoimmune diseases. The AVISE CTD lupus test has consistently demonstrated greater sensitivity than other lupus tests in multiple published studies.^6,7Download our guide to learn more about how our test compares with other lupus testing options.

Who’s a Candidate for AVISE CTD Lupus Testing?

You may be a candidate for the AVISE CTD lupus test if you’ve had a positive ANA test or are experiencing lupus-like symptoms.

Our lupus blood test may also be right for you if you’ve tested negative on traditional lupus tests, but your provider suspects the disease based on symptoms. In addition, you may wish to take the AVISE CTD lupus test if you have an autoimmune disease and are concerned that you could be developing another.

How to Get the AVISE CTD Test

Follow these steps to start a conversation with your provider about the AVISE CTD lupus test:

Make an appointment with your provider if you’re experiencing lupus-like symptoms.
Complete our Lupus Symptoms Checklist and take it to your appointment.
Discuss your symptoms with your provider, who will determine whether the AVISE CTD lupus test is appropriate for you.

What the AVISE CTD Test Entails

If your provider orders the AVISE CTD test, your doctor will provide two tubes of blood through a standard blood draw—that’s all we need. We’ll analyze your blood samples at Exagen’s laboratory and send the results to your provider’s office within five business days.

Your provider will receive a report detailing your likelihood of having lupus and help them rule out other autoimmune disorders. You and your provider will review the report together and make a plan based on the results.

How You Can Benefit From Our Lupus Blood Test

If your provider suspects lupus, the sooner you receive a diagnosis, studies show the better off you will be in the long term.^8,9 Early diagnosis allows you to start treatment sooner, which can increase your chance of a better quality of life in the future and potentially reduce the need for more aggressive treatments and procedures down the road.¹ Early diagnosis can lead to: