Ordering Recommendation

Optimal specimen location and complementary serum testing and/or histopathology examination vary according to disease type. Note that specimen location and transport medium/fixative are different for direct immunofluorescence testing and fixed-tissue histopathology.

Use with serum immunobullous disease/epithelial antibody testing and formalin-fixed tissue histopathology for assessment of pruritic, urticarial, blistering, and/or erosive disorders. Use with formalin-fixed tissue histopathology for assessment of inflammatory, immune-mediated cutaneous disease. 

For more information on specimen collection requirements and diseases assessed, see the ARUP Immunobullous Disease Testing Comparison tool.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Tissue: skin, mucosa (oral, conjunctival, genital, esophageal), other epithelium (gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary).

Specimen Preparation

Transport tissue (optimal 4-6 mm) in Michel's medium (ARUP supply #45462) available online through eSupply using ARUP Connect™ or call ARUP Client Services at (800) 522-2787. Also acceptable: Zeus tissue fixative. Label container with transport medium type, if not an ARUP-supplied vial.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Formalin-fixed tissue. Frozen in Michel's medium. Solid organs or solid organ tissue. Tissue in container of unknown or unacceptable transport medium. Tissue sections on slides, prestained or unstained.

Remarks
Stability

Ambient: 10 days; Refrigerated: 10 days; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Direct Immunofluorescence

Performed

Varies

Reported

3-7 days

Reference Interval

By report

Interpretive Data

Refer to report

Compliance Category

Performed by non-ARUP Laboratory

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

88346; 88350 x5

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0092571 Cutaneous Direct IF, Biopsy 6471-7
2010916 EER Cutaneous Direct IF, Biopsy
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • atypical epithelial antibody-associated disease
  • basement membrane zone antibody-associated disease
  • Bullous Disease
  • bullous disease of childhood
  • bullous lupus erythematosus
  • bullous pemphigoid
  • childhood immunobullous disease
  • Chronic Bullous Disease
  • chronic bullous disease of childhood
  • cicatricial pemphigoid
  • Cutaneous Direct Immunofluorescence, Biopsy
  • Cutaneous Herpetiformis
  • cutaneous lupus
  • Dermatitis Herpetiformis
  • drug hypersensitivity
  • drug reaction
  • endemic pemphigus
  • epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
  • epithelial antibody-associated disease
  • fogo selvagem, IgA pemphigus
  • Henoch-Schönlein purpura
  • herpetiformis
  • hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis
  • IgA vasculitis
  • immune-mediated vasculitis
  • intercellular IgG/IgA dermatosis
  • intercellular substance antibodies
  • intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis
  • leukocytoclastic vasculitis
  • lichen planus
  • Lichen Planus and Lichenoid
  • lichenoid
  • linear IgA bullous dermatosis
  • Linear IgA Bullous, Tissue
  • linear IgA disease
  • linear IgG/IgA bullous dermatosis
  • lupus
  • lupus erythematosus
  • Lupus Erythematous, Tissue
  • mixed epithelial antibody-associated disease
  • mixed immunobullous disease of childhood
  • mucous membrane pemphigoid
  • ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
  • pemphigoid gestationis
  • pemphigoid variants
  • Pemphigoid, Tissue
  • Pemphigus
  • pemphigus erythematosus
  • pemphigus foliaceus
  • pemphigus vegetans
  • pemphigus vulgaris
  • pemphigus, tissue
  • Porphyria and Pseudoporphyria, Tissue
  • porphyria, pseudoporphyria, tissue
  • Skin Immunofluorescence
  • subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
  • subcorneal pustular dermatosis
  • subepithelial immunobullous disease
  • Urticaria
  • Urticarial Pemphigoid
  • Urticarial Vasculitis
  • Vasculitis
  • vasculopathy
Direct Immunofluorescence, Tissue Biopsy (Cutaneous, Mucosal, Epithelial)