title: Studies in cutaneous immunofluorescence. I. The effect of storage time on direct immunofluorescence of skin biopsies from bullous disease and lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Forty-eight biopsy samples submitted to a diagnostic immunofluorescence service have been stored at -20 degrees C and sequentially re-tested at monthly intervals to ascertain the duration for which immunoglobulins and complement can be identified in these samples in typical and diagnostic patterns of distribution. Four biopsies from pemphigus vulgaris, 14 biopsies from bullous pemphigoid, nine biopsies from dermatitis herpetiformis and 21 from chronic discoid lupus erythematosus have been studied in this manner. In all cases diagnostic immunofluorescence patterns were present up to 4 months after biopsy and in several biopsies a diagnostic pattern was observed at 9 months. It is concluded that adequate storage facilities for a diagnostic immunfluorescence service can be achieved with a -20 degrees C storage system and that known positive material can be retrieved from this system for use as controls or in research studies for a minimum of 4 months.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000276:immunology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000276:immunology; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins