Diagnostic applications of the fluorescent antibody method.

Reagents and equipment are now readily available to make fluorescent antibody techniques routine diagnostic procedures. Antinuclear antibodies are detectable by such methods and are useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune disease. By defining not only the site of tissue damage but also the specific components deposted at that site, immunofluorescence applied to renal biopsies has helped to elucidate the nature of otherwise similar appearing processes. Fluorescent techniques also facilitate diagnosis of such skin diseases as lupus, bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus.