Direct uorescent antibody

biopsies of skin, kidney and other organs. Their presence

is indicative of an autoimmune disease. When skin not
exposed to the sun is tested, a positive direct IF (the socalled Lupus band test) is an evidence of systemic lupus
erythematosus. [2] Direct uorescent antibody can also
be used to detect parasitic infections, as was pioneered
by Sadun, et al. (1960).

1 See also
Immunouorescence
Direct FA stained mouse brain impression smear reveals the presence of the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. 400X.

2 References
A direct uorescent antibody (DFA or dFA) (also
known as Direct immunouorescence[1] ) is an antibody Using Wikipedia for research
that has been tagged in a direct uorescent antibody
test. Its name derives from the fact that it directly tests
the presence of an antigen with the tagged antibody, un- [1] Pober, Jordan S.; Abbas, Abul K.; Lichtman, Andrew H.
like western blotting, which uses an indirect method of
(2000). Cellular and molecular immunology. Philadeldetection, where the primary antibody binds the target
phia: Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-8233-2.
antigen, with a secondary antibody directed against the
[2] Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2011; 7: 2732. The lupus band
primary, and a tag attached to the secondary antibody.
test in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Adam Reich, Katarzyna Marcinow, and Rafal Bialynicki-Birula

Commercial DFA testing kits are available, which contain

uorescently labelled antibodies, designed to specically
target unique antigens present in the bacteria or virus, but
not present in mammals (Eukaryotes). This technique
can be used to quickly determine if a subject has a specic viral or bacterial infection.

3 External links
Direct Fluorescent Antibody Technique at the US
National Library of Medicine Medical Subject
Headings (MeSH)

In the case of respiratory viruses, many of which have

similar broad symptoms, detection can be carried out using nasal wash samples from the subject with the suspected infection. Although shedding cells in the respiratory tract can be obtained, it is often in low numbers,
and so an alternative method can be adopted where compatible cell culture can be exposed to infected nasal wash
samples, so if the virus is present it can be grown up to a
larger quantity, which can then give a clearer positive or
negative reading.
As with all types of uorescence microscopy, the correct
absorption wavelength needs to be determined in order to
excite the uorophore tag attached to the antibody, and
detect the uorescence given o, which indicates which
cells are positive for the presence of the virus or bacteria
being detected.
Direct immunouorescence can be used to detect deposits of immunoglobulins and complement proteins in
1

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