Immunofluorescent Studies Electron Microscopy (EM)

Immunofluorescent stains of the pleura should be done if the working diagnosis is lupus. Drug induced lupus and lupus are the only diseases where immune complexes can be demonstrated in the pleura. Send one good specimen in saline immediately to the Immunology Laboratory.

I have never found electron microscopy (EM) to be very useful. We switched to paraformalin primarily to have that option. It may be useful in mesothelioma and viral diseases.