Dermatology Testing at Inform Diagnostics

Definitive Diagnoses

As a part of our evaluation, ancillary tests and molecular diagnostics are used most frequently to aid in the precision of these diagnoses. Inform Diagnostics Life Sciences believes in responsible test utilization and only orders tests that are medically appropriate for accurate diagnosis.

Test Offering
Test Details
Indications
Skin biopsy and excision evaluation
Evaluation of lesions, inflammatory disorders, and diseases
Skin cancer detection and diagnosis and classification of diseases
Trichogram (hair pluck) evaluation
Evaluation of a forcible hair pluck specimen using routine and polarizing microscopy
Hair shaft abnormality evaluation, and determination of the anagen to telogen hair ratio
Alopecia biopsy evaluation
Evaluation of scalp punch biopsies for alopecia, including utilization of Headington technique
Evaluation and classification of causes of alopecia
Nail plate, scrapings, nail matrix, and/or nail bed biopsy evaluation
Evaluation of nail specimens, with a PAS stain for fungus
Onychomycosis and other diseases affecting nails
Direct immunofluorescence
Fluorophore-conjugated antibodies to IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, and fibrinogen are used to detect immune complex deposition in fresh tissue skin and mucosal biopsies submitted in Michel’s medium
Performed on perilesional skin/mucosa for patients with bullous diseases and lesional skin/mucosa for patients with connective tissue diseases and vasculitis
Melanoma FISH assay
Six-probe FISH assay to evaluate for gains and/or losses in chromosomes 6, 11, and 9 that commonly occur in melanoma
Detection of differences in chromosomal aberrations between melanoma and nevi, to improve diagnostic accuracy in the classification of ambiguous melanocytic tumors
HPV genotyping
In situ hybridization studies for high and low-risk HPV
To determine presence of low-risk and/or high-risk HPV in the lesion
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) analysis
MMR protein immunohistochemical stains (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2)
Performed on sebaceous tumors to identify patients with HNPCC/Lynch/Muir Torre Syndrome
Wide variety of immunohistochemistry and special stains
Immunohistochemical stains and chemical special stain are performed on formalin-fixed tissue
Diagnosis and classification of tumors and nonneoplastic diseases
Molecular testing for cutaneous hematologic malignancies
Comprehensive ancillary tests using FISH, PCR, and in situ hybridization techniques
Diagnosis and classification of lymphomas and leukemias
Second opinion service
Expert consultation performed on slides from outside laboratories
For difficult and unusual cases