We compare a series of conditions for inducing lamina lucida separation through normal skin specimens using 1 M NaCl for the detection of basement membrane zone auto-antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence. Skin was split at room temperature and at 4 °C with and without phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. Our results demonstrate that for the detection of bullous pemphigoid and epidermal-binding linear IgA bullous dermatoses antibodies skin should be split at 4°C with enzyme inhibitors. For epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and dermal-binding antibodies skin can be split at room temperatur