Does this also mean I am automatically negative for all other types of autoimmune diseases? The reason I ask this is cause my doctor said she would test my blood for auto-immune diseases, she didn't specifically say lupus. But I later found out she did a lupus panel. So, does testing negative in a lupus panel mean I am negative from muliple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases as well?
No, not necessarily. While some of the tests for lupus are the same as for others, MS is different although it is an autoimmune disease.
You should get a copy of your lab results to find out exactly what she did and have her go over them with you. To my knowledge, a lupus panel is to assist in diagnosing lupus. I'd call your doctor, let her know you'd like to make an appt just to go over the results in detail and to determine where you go from here!
[This message has been edited by renae (edited 06-22-2002).]
I agree with Renae - review the results with your doc. I have SLE, RA, Sjogren's, Raynauds and possibly Fibro - but I tested negative then positive then negative then positive for a couple of months before my bloodwork finally rested on positive.
Be persistent with your doctor, talk about your symptoms - it helps sometimes to write them down. Express that something isn't "right" with you - and you want to find out what is going on. Ask what else can be done. Sometimes it may mean jumping up and down some, but it's necessary to drive home the point that you're physically miserable.
You can test negative for Lupus on a blood test and still
have it. That is one of the reasons it is hard to
diagnose. The only thing to do is keep track of your
symptoms and keep checking the blood it sometimes
shows up later.
Negative for Lupus 
