The most critical factor for interpreting the results of immunohistochemistry is verification of antibody sensitivity and specificity. While some manufacturers supply material data sheets with this information, many do not. This paper describes a well-defined quality assurance program for testing immune reagents. This program can be used to provide commercial suppliers of antisera with analyses of their products destined for government licensure applications. This paper illustrates the protocol and explains the testing philosophy developed over the last eight years.
Although immunohistochemical methods are increasingly applied in diagnostic histopathology, there has been little standardization or quality control of immunoreagents; and published reports have not standardized Material and Methods for meaningful comparisons of results among clinicians. The Biological Stain Commission-sponsored workshop was convened to address the following issues: a manufacturers' testing program for probity of commercial antibodies, development of a manual for performance criteria and quality control assurance procedures, standardization of package inserts, standardization of information provided in the Materials and Methods sections of publications, establishment of a reagent and procedure clearing house, study of the effects of different fixation regimes on tissue antigens, and investigation of the environmental conditions needed for antigen-antibody interaction. The recommendations of the ad hoc committee and their implications for the future are discussed.
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