• Lupus is an autoimmune illness where your immune system attacks your own normal cells.
• It mostly affects your skin and joints, but it can affect any part of your body.
• Stress, exposure to sunlight, infections and some medicines can trigger symptoms of lupus.
• It can be hard to diagnose lupus because there is no single test that confirms it.
• There is no cure for lupus, but you can manage your symptoms with a combination of medicines and a healthy lifestyle.

These key facts are from healthdirect.gov.au (accessed 29 Jan 2025). Visit the healthdirect website for more information about systemic lupus erythematosus.

If your doctor suspects you have systemic lupus erythematosus, they may request one or more tests.

If you are diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, some of these tests will be used to monitor and manage your condition.

Find information about specific tests:

• Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
• Double stranded DNA antibodies
• Complement