Improved techniques for in vivo and in vitro detection of IgG deposits at dermo–epidermal junction of human skin

Summary One of the most important problems in the detection of human IgG deposits at the dermo–epidermal junction is non–specific dermo–papillary fluorescence. We describe an improved technique to decrease non–specific dermal fluorescence by using either a FITC–conjugated goat anti–human IgG–Fab or a FITC–conjugated goat anti–IgG (γ chain specific) absorbed onto normal goat serum in direct and indirect immunofluorescence tests. With this procedure, human skin was found to be a better substrate than rabbit lip for indirect immunofluorescence.