PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Chowdhury, S M
AU  - Broomhead, V
AU  - Spickett, G P
AU  - Wilkinson, R
TI  - Pitfalls of formalin fixation for determination of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies.
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.52.6.475
DP  - 1999 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 475--477
VI  - 52
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/52/6/475.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/52/6/475.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1999 Jun 01; 52
AB  - Sera can produce nuclear or perinuclear immunofluorescence staining in neutrophils which may be caused by antibodies with differing antigenic specificities. These include perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA), granulocyte specific antinuclear antibody (GS-ANA), and antinuclear antibody (ANA). There is controversy over the value of formalin fixation of neutrophils in differentiating antibodies giving selective or preferential reaction with the nuclear or perinuclear area of neutrophils. In a comparative study of 77 sera, formalin fixation caused inconsistency, nonspecific effects, and false positivity owing to enhanced fluorescence. If formalin fixed neutrophils are used in the routine diagnostic laboratory, this will add confusion to the interpretation of the ANCA assay.