No, most of the tests will not come back as a false-negative because even small amounts of antibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-ssDNA, anti-Sm,) in the blood or the skin(lupus-band-test) will still be detected.

I had an Ana comprehensive panel done and the ANA choice screen came back as positive. Antibody ss-B was also positive, 1.3. My Antinuclear antibodies 1:40. I have an appt to talk to a doctor on 4/1/09. What does all this mean??

belive me it is possible i had three test come back positive and one negative the RA doctor then refused to see me and sent me back to my primary. thank god i have a great primary. we waited a few months and retook the test and yes it was positive again.

Unfortunately it is very possible to have a neg. ANA and still have SLE

This cites all the medical research in a published journal

http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/conten t/full/97/5/303

In brief: Approx. 5% of all SLE victims not only test negative on initial ANA, but consistently test negative.

Because many doctors do not follow up after a neg. ANA it's believed that there's even a higher percentage of SLE victims out there who are undiagnosed.

Do a web search for "false negative ANA", "ANA false negative" for even more published medical studies and ongoing research.

Also keep in mind that an ANA result can vary during exacerbation of symptoms, be different based on the lab doing the test or even the type of microscope used.

If you have lupus symptoms and a neg. ANA, ask for a lupus 12 panel and further investigation. Repeated ANA's over the months/years may also help eventually diagnose it; however, some SLE patients remain ANA negative for life.