Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Jan 19;11(1):52-61.
doi: 10.3390/dermatopathology11010006.

Direct Immunofluorescence of Skin and Oral Mucosa: Guidelines for Selecting the Optimum Biopsy Site

Muhammad N Mahmood  1
Affiliations
Review

Direct Immunofluorescence of Skin and Oral Mucosa: Guidelines for Selecting the Optimum Biopsy Site

Muhammad N Mahmood. Dermatopathology (Basel). .

Abstract

Direct immunofluorescence is a vital diagnostic test for assessing vesiculobullous disorders, vasculitides, and connective tissue diseases. It is a robust and valuable technique that offers essential diagnostic information for many critical dermatoses. Dermatopathologists depend heavily on the data obtained from direct immunofluorescence evaluation to confirm final diagnoses. Selecting the most appropriate biopsy site is necessary for maximizing diagnostic accuracy, and the best site may vary depending on the clinical differential diagnosis. Inaccurate biopsy site selection can significantly impact the accuracy of the results. To optimize the use of direct immunofluorescence studies, this review provides helpful guidelines and some practical tips for selecting the best biopsy site.

Keywords: biopsy site; connective tissue disease; direct immunofluorescence; oral mucosa; transport media; vasculitis; vesiculobullous disorder.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Sárdy M., Kostaki D., Varga R., Peris K., Ruzicka T. Comparative study of direct and indirect immunofluorescence and of bullous pemphigoid 180 and 230 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2013;69:748–753. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.07.009. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Elston D.M., Stratman E.J., Miller S.J. Skin biopsy: Biopsy issues in specific diseases. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2016;74:1–16. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.06.033. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cocks M.M. A Starter Guide to Immunofluorescence Testing in Dermatology. Cutis. 2021;108:E23–E26. doi: 10.12788/cutis.0404. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Anstey A., Venning V., Wojnarowska F., Bhogal B., Black M.M. Determination of the optimum site for diagnostic biopsy for direct immunofluorescence in bullous pemphigoid. Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 1990;15:438–441. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1990.tb02139.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sladden C., Kirchhof M.G., Crawford R.I. Biopsy location for direct immunofluorescence in patients with suspected bullous pemphigoid impacts probability of a positive test result. J. Cutan. Med. Surg. 2014;18:392–396. doi: 10.2310/7750.2014.14004. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources