Health Encyclopedia
Anti-DNase B
Definition
Anti-DNase B is a blood test to look for a substance produced by Group A Streptococcus bacteria, which causes strep throat.
See also:
Alternative Names
Antideoxyribonuclease B titer; ADN-B test
How the Test is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is necessary.
How the Test Will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is most often done to tell if you have previously had a strep infection.
Normal Results
A negative test is normal.
- Adults: less than 85 Todd units/mL
- School-age children: less than 170 Todd units/mL
- Preschool children: less than 60 Todd units/mL
What Abnormal Results Mean
Increased levels of DNase B levels may be due to:
- Rheumatic fever
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis after strep throat or strep-related skin infection
Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Considerations
When used together with the ASO titer test, more than 90% of streptococcal infections can be correctly identified.
Reviewed By: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
