Indirect immunoflourescence titration of serum for pemphigus auto-antibodies
- Description
- Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) is performed on serum samples using 3 standard substrates: monkey oesophagus, normal human skin and human split skin, to detect IgG and IgA antibodies associated with autoimmune blistering diseases, including all sub-types of pemphigus and pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and linear IgA disease. Any positive immunofluorescence picked up by the above screen is further titred out, to provide a semi-quantitative assessment of autoantibody load. Transitional epithelium (rat bladder) substrate is also used, where there is clinical suspicion of paraneoplastic pemphigus.
- Related condition
- Synonyms
Skin antibodies, IIF, split skin.
- Testing site
- Synnovis : Tissue Sciences : St Thomas' Hospital
- Laboratory
- Immunodermatology
- Sample type and volume required
1x serum separator tube (SST) or at least 0.5 ml pre-separated serum
- Special sample instructions
SST should be received in lab within 48 hours of collection (1 month for separated serum stored at 4°C).
- Turnaround time
8 working days
- Contacts
Immunodermatology Laboratory at St Thomas’
Phone: 020 7188 6364
Email: immunodermatology@synnovis.co.uk
St John’s Institute of Dermatology
St Thomas’ Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 09:00 -17:00