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Sera can produce nuclear or perinuclear immunofluorescence staining in neutrophils which may be caused by antibodies with diVering 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 diVerentiating 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 eVects, 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. (J Clin Pathol 1999;52:475-477)

Recent publications have suggested that fixing neutrophils in formalin is a useful adjunct to the differentiation of antinuclear antibodies from perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. In this small comparative study of 30 sera the use of an additional slide of formalin fixed neutrophils did not add any useful information and may be confusing as the results were not reproducible. (7 Clin Pathol 1995;48:89-90)

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