Vasculitis Antibody Screening - Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies Screen (ANCA)

A specialized serological assay designed to detect the presence, concentration, and specific staining pattern of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) in a patient's serum, predominantly utilizing Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF) or targeted direct immunoassays like EIA/ELISA. The screening meticulously differentiates between major immunofluorescence patterns: the cytoplasmic c-ANCA (typically associated with autoantibodies against Proteinase 3 - PR3) and the perinuclear p-ANCA (frequently linked to autoantibodies against Myeloperoxidase - MPO). The detection of these highly specific antibodies serves as a cornerstone in the diagnosis, classification, and clinical monitoring of primary systemic small-vessel vasculitides.