CUTANEOUS IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE, BIOPSY
Skin or mucosal tissue are examined for presence of bound IgG, IgM, or IgA, third component of complement (C3), and fibrinogen. This is useful for confirming a diagnosis of pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, or lupus erythematosus.
NOTIFY WPM BEFORE SPECIMEN COLLECTION TO OBTAIN ZEUS TRANSPORT SOLUTION.
- A punch biopsy (3-4mm) of involved or uninvolved skin is obtained.
- Immediately place the specimen in a vial of Zeus transport solution. Seal tightly.
NOTE: Assay CANNOT be performed on specimens fixed in formalin. - Label vial with patient's name, biopsy site, and date.
- Place specimen vial in a specimen transport bag.
- Transport to WPM, along with a properly filled out WPM SURGICAL PATHOLOGY & NON-GYN CYTOLOGY request form. Under Special Requests: indicate [X] Other, and write in "cutaneous immunofluorescence".
NOTE: Interpretation of results is facilitated by submitting the following clinical data on the patient: age, sex, clinical diagnosis, biopsy site (anatomic), exposure of site to sun (exposed, unexposed), and relationship to lesional skin (perilesional, involved, uninvolved).