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Abstract
In studies on 779 fresh, unselected ANA+ sera, 50 (6.4%) were found to have anti-dsDNA antibodies, by using CIP (C. luciliae immunoperoxidase), and 84% of the 50 patients met the criteria for definite SLE. After freezing 36 of these sera for 13±1 months, only 52.8% were again positive by CIP. Using CIF (C. luciliae immunofluorescence), 16.7% and 52.8% of the same stored sera were anti-dsDNA+, with transmitted and epi-illumination, respectively. We favour CIP to CIF because: (1) slide files are permanent, overcoming any lability of antibodies in frozen sera; (2) kinetoplast, flagellum and nucleus are easily distinguished; (3) perikinetoplast staining is avoided: (4) specialized microscopic equipment is not needed.