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Immunocytochemistry and Immunohistochemistry

Immunocytochemistry and Immunohistochemistry

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) are techniques that use antibodies to check for specific proteins or antigens in a sample. The technique was first published by Albert Coons in 1941 to detect the presence of pneumococcal antigen in tissue sections from mice infected with Pneumococcus. Immunocytochemistry helps localization of proteins or antigens in individual cells like blood cells, stem cells, etc., while immunohistochemistry does the same for tissue samples.
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Optimization, Design and Avoiding Pitfalls in Manual Multiplex Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry

Optimization, Design and Avoiding Pitfalls in Manual Multiplex Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry

Published on: July 26, 2019

Technical pitfalls potentially affecting diagnoses in immunohistochemistry.

G Bussolati¹, E Leonardo

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy. gianni.bussolati@unito.it

Journal of Clinical Pathology

|March 8, 2008

Summary

Accurate interpretation of immunohistochemical reactions is crucial in surgical pathology to avoid misdiagnosis. This study reviews technical and interpretative pitfalls, offering guidelines for reliable diagnostic data.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Optimization, Design and Avoiding Pitfalls in Manual Multiplex Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry

Optimization, Design and Avoiding Pitfalls in Manual Multiplex Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry

Published on: July 26, 2019

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Quantitation of Protein Expression and Co-localization Using Multiplexed Immuno-histochemical Staining and Multispectral Imaging

Quantitation of Protein Expression and Co-localization Using Multiplexed Immuno-histochemical Staining and Multispectral Imaging

Published on: April 8, 2016

Area of Science:

Surgical Pathology
Immunohistochemistry

Background:

Immunohistochemical (IHC) reactions are vital in diagnostic surgical pathology.
Technical and interpretative pitfalls can lead to false results and incorrect diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and describe sources of pitfalls in IHC staining.
To provide a guideline for the proper interpretation of IHC data.

Main Methods:

Analytical review of literature on IHC pitfalls.
Description of technical steps affecting IHC accuracy (fixation, processing, decalcification, antigen retrieval).
Discussion of factors causing unreliable data (endogenous enzyme activity, biotin issues, antibody/detection system use, interpretation).

Main Results:

Identified numerous technical and interpretative pitfalls in IHC.
Highlighted the impact of fixation, tissue processing, decalcification, and antigen retrieval on IHC accuracy.
Emphasized the need for internal/external controls and cross-validation programs.

Conclusions:

Proper interpretation of IHC results is essential for accurate surgical pathology diagnosis.
Implementing controls and validation programs is mandatory to ensure reliable IHC data.
Guidelines are provided to aid in the interpretation of IHC findings.