Читать книгу Ridley's The Vulva - Группа авторов - Страница 170

Routine blood tests are of little value in the investigation of vulval disease. They are mainly used in specific situations.

1 Infection Serological tests are useful in some infections but are targeted towards the suspected clinical diagnosis.

2 Immunobullous disease Indirect immunofluorescence is performed on serum and has two stages. First, an unlabelled antibody binds to the target antigen, and in the second stage a fluorescent antibody against the first antibody is used in detection. In immunobullous disease, however, they are generally confirmatory rather than diagnostic. It is used in conjunction with direct immunofluorescent studies.

3 Type 1 allergic reactions A RAST (radioallergosorbent test) is safer than in vivo prick testing if the patient gives a history of anaphylactic reactions. This measures any interaction between the antigen and its specific antibody. The possible allergen needs to be considered and that specific test requested, as it is not a universal test to determine allergy but rather confirms what is suspected.