Anti-reticulin antibody (ARA)

Reticulin is a term given to collagen containing connective tissues found in many different organs. Anti-reticulin antibodies may be detected occasionally as part of the autoantibody screen. They are in themselves of no significance. However, in around 50% cases they may provide evidence of unsuspected coeliac disease. Therefore all positive samples are routinely tested for anti-tissue transglutaminase.The test has only low sensitivity of coeliac diseases and is therefore not used routinely.

• Sample of blood serum
• We perform the test every Monday