THE CENTROMERE ANTIBODY (ACA) TEST DETECTS AND MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF ANTICENTROMERE ANTIBODY IN THE BLOOD TO HELP DIAGNOSE A FORM OF SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SCLERODERMA). SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS IS A GROUP OF RARE CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS. THE TEST MAY BE USED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. TESTING MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE THE DOCTOR WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF AN ANA (ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODY) TEST IS POSITIVE.

SCL-70 ANTIBODIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SPECIFIC FOR SCLERODERMA AND ARE FOUND IN NEARLY 60% OF THESE PATIENTS. THEY ARE MORE COMMON IN PATIENTS WITH EXTENSIVE CUTANEOUS INVOLVEMENT AND INTERSTITIAL PULMONARY FIBROSIS AND THEIR PRESENCE IS A POOR PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR.