title: Optimizing direct immunofluorescence.
abstract: Immunofluorescence is a laboratory technique that utilizes a fluorophore-labeled antibody to detect immune complexes in tissue. Most of the labeled antibodies used in a clinical laboratory bind the conserved domains within each class of human antibodies, allowing them to detect a wide range of autoimmune complexes. Drawbacks to this technique mostly relate to proper handling of the specimen and the fluorophore-labeled antibodies. Therefore, having a basic understanding of fluorophores and antibodies is important for processing a specimen that yields a high signal-to-background ratio as well as troubleshooting problems, should they arise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, Building LMP, Room 5040, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA, Ian.odell@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Odell
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014021:Tissue Preservation
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies