Autoantibody detection: prevailing practices at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh.

Background: Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test as the first level investigation for detection of auto-immune rheumatic disease has been recommended in a number of international guidelines. This study was performed to evaluate the local practice and trends of auto-antibody laboratory requests.

Methods: Data were collected from 249 initial laboratory requests for first level auto-antibody detection between April 2012 and April 2013 in the Immunology Unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh.