Six common ANA staining patterns

In the homogenous staining pattern (ICAP code AC-1), the nucleus is diffusely stained (A). Chromosomes at the metaphase plate (arrow) are also stained. In the course speckled pattern (B, AC-5), very small, mostly uniform dots are seen throughout the nucleus. Chromosomes are not stained during cell division (not shown). The centromere pattern (C, AC-3) is characterized by the presence of 30 to 60 dots distributed throughout the nucleus of resting cells. The dots localize to chromosomes during cell division (dashed arrow). The nucleolar pattern (AC-8), produced by antibodies directed against the PM-Scl complex, is shown in (D). The nuclear pore complex pattern (E, AC-12) consists of discontinuous staining of the nuclear envelope. The antimitochondrial antibody pattern (F, AC-21) is characterized by the presence of granular and filamentous staining throughout the cytoplasm.