Specimen need not be refrigerated or frozen. Collect 2-3 ml of blood in a red top or serum separator tube. If possible, separate serum from clot and place into white tube provided with Immco Diagnostics’ collection kits. If separation facilities are not available, the blood can be sent in the tube used for collection.

Sample is stable at ambient temperature during shipment. If sample is stored prior to shipment, it is stable refrigerated (2-8˚C) up to five days and frozen (-20˚C or lower) up to one year.

The detection of anti-skin (IC and BMZ) antibodies aids in the diagnosis, and sometimes prognosis, of chronic vesicular-bullous diseases including pemphigus, pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Epithelial intercellular antibodies are diagnostic for pemphigus and occur in over 90% of patients with active forms. Because of the species specificity of intercellular antibodies, the use of the dual substrates further distinguishes the intercellular antibodies of pemphigus vulgaris and vegetans from the antibodies of pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus. Antibodies to basement membrane antigens of stratified squamous epithelium occur in about 70% of active bullous pemphigoid, 50% of vesicular pemphigoid and EBA and 10% of cicatricial pemphigoid patients.Clinical Relevance: The detection of anti-skin (IC and BMZ) antibodies aids in the diagnosis, and sometimes prognosis, of chronic vesicular-bullous diseases including pemphigus, pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Epithelial intercellular antibodies are diagnostic for pemphigus and occur in over 90% of patients with active forms. Because of the species specificity of intercellular antibodies, the use of the dual substrates further distinguishes the intercellular antibodies of pemphigus vulgaris and vegetans from the antibodies of pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus. Antibodies to basement membrane antigens of stratified squamous epithelium occur in about 70% of active bullous pemphigoid, 50% of vesicular pemphigoid and EBA and 10% of cicatricial pemphigoid patients.Clinical Relevance: The detection of anti-skin (IC and BMZ) antibodies aids in the diagnosis, and sometimes prognosis, of chronic vesicular-bullous diseases including pemphigus, pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Epithelial intercellular antibodies are diagnostic for pemphigus and occur in over 90% of patients with active forms. Because of the species specificity of intercellular antibodies, the use of the dual substrates further distinguishes the intercellular antibodies of pemphigus vulgaris and vegetans from the antibodies of pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus. Antibodies to basement membrane antigens of stratified squamous epithelium occur in about 70% of active bullous pemphigoid, 50% of vesicular pemphigoid and EBA and 10% of cicatricial pemphigoid patients.Clinical Relevance: The detection of anti-skin (IC and BMZ) antibodies aids in the diagnosis, and sometimes prognosis, of chronic vesicular-bullous diseases including pemphigus, pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Epithelial intercellular antibodies are diagnostic for pemphigus and occur in over 90% of patients with active forms. Because of the species specificity of intercellular antibodies, the use of the dual substrates further distinguishes the intercellular antibodies of pemphigus vulgaris and vegetans from the antibodies of pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus. Antibodies to basement membrane antigens of stratified squamous epithelium occur in about 70% of active bullous pemphigoid, 50% of vesicular pemphigoid and EBA and 10% of cicatricial pemphigoid patients.