Table 1.
Results of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of matched skin biopsies transported in different media.
| N2 | Mi48 | S24 | S48 | ||
| Diagnosis by DIF | DSS | n = 25 | n = 22§ | n = 25 | n = 23§ |
| a. conclusive | +/+++ | 14 (56%) | 11 (50%) | 21 (84%) | 16 (70%) |
| b. tentative | ±/+ | 5 (20%) | 4 (18%) | 2 (8%) | 3 (13%) |
| c. non-diagnostic | -/± | 5 (20%) | 7 (32%) | 2 (8%) | 4 (17%) |
| d. mis-diagnosed | 1 (4%) | - | - | - | |
N2, snap-frozen specimens in liquid nitrogen; Mi48, specimens in Michel's fixative for 48 hours; S24 and S48, specimens in saline for 24 and 48 hours respectively; DSS, desired specific staining; n, number of cases
§ Two S48 and three Mi48 matched biopsies were either lacking or considered unsuitable.