Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) testing may be diagnostic when histologic or direct IF studies are only suggestive, nonspecific, or negative.
Anti-cell surface (CS) antibodies correlate with a diagnosis of pemphigus.
Anti-basement zone (BMZ) antibodies correlate with a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), or bullous eruption of lupus erythematosus (LE).
If serum contains anti-BMZ antibodies, the pattern of fluorescence on sodium chloride(NaCl)-split skin substrate helps distinguish pemphigoid from EBA and bullous LE. Staining of the roof (epidermal side) or both epidermal and dermal sides of NaCl-split skin correlates with the diagnosis of pemphigoid, while fluorescence localized only to the dermal side of the split-skin substrate correlates with either EBA or bullous LE.