for those questioning the diagnostic process of Lupus....yes lupus can be diagnosed with a blood test. the test that diagnosis lupus looks at white blood count, number of antibodies, blood clotting. basically the same things it looks for when for example diagnosing HIV. lupus is a disease that is in the category of immune diseases. which means the same blood tests that detect immune diseases can detect lupus. I know this because a family member was just recently diagnosed with this and that was the process that he was diagnosed through. times are changing. as we know more about diseases and mental disorders the diagnostic processes change too, this is how my location diagnosis Lupus and other immune diseases...through blood work. other locations may have other standards they go through. but this is how it is where I am located.