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Durability of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) slides stored at room temperature
Amira Elbendary1, Cheng Zhou2, Jonathan Truong3
1Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York, New York; Dermatology Department, Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
Prior studies suggested that direct immunofluorescence (DIF) slides can be stored at room temperature.
Objectives:
We sought to determine the durability of DIF slides stored at room temperature for 5 years.
Methods:
This was a retrospective study of 83 DIF slides archived at room temperature during 2010. The pattern of immunoreactants was compared with those noted in the original report.
Results:
Loss of reactivity was limited to cases with weak fluorescence at original diagnosis. Loss of IgG was noted in 12.5% of cases, IgA in 12%, C3 in 10%, and IgM in 9.75%. Fibrin showed no loss of reactivity. Preservation of immunofluorescence was not related to site of deposition. Overall, a reliable diagnosis could be made in 75 of 79 archived cases (94.9%).
Limitations:
Cases had been archived for periods varying from 4.5 to 5 years. Variations in processing and fluorochromes could affect durability. We have no way of knowing how long slides had been exposed to ultraviolet light at the time of initial examination.
Conclusion:
DIF showed excellent durability in slides kept at room temperature for 5 years.
