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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Synthetic Antigen Controls for Immunohistochemistry
Published on: August 23, 2021
Synthetic Antigen Gels as Practical Controls for Standardized and Quantitative Immunohistochemistry
Kathy J Hötzel1, Charles A Havnar1, Hai V Ngu1
1Department of Research Pathology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California.
Insights
Reproducible immunohistochemistry (IHC) controls are essential for standardization. This study introduces synthetic protein gels as novel IHC controls, enabling objective quantification and protocol optimization.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Histochemistry
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Standardizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) requires reliable positive and negative control samples.
- Current limitations exist in the availability of suitable tissue or cell line controls for IHC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for creating synthetic protein gel-based controls for IHC.
- To enable objective quantification and standardization of IHC protocols.
Main Methods:
- Incorporating target antigens (peptides, protein domains, whole proteins) into synthetic protein gels.
- Utilizing various fixation protocols compatible with the synthetic gels.
- Creating tissue microarrays (TMAs) with controlled antigen concentrations from the gels.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a method to create synthetic protein gels for IHC controls.
- Showcased compatibility with diverse fixation methods.
- Enabled the generation of TMAs with tunable antigen levels for calibration.
Conclusions:
- Synthetic protein gels offer a viable solution for IHC control standardization.
- This method allows for objective quantification and calibration of IHC staining.
- Facilitates optimization and inter-laboratory standardization of IHC protocols.
Abstract:
Optimization and standardization of immunohistochemistry (IHC) protocols within and between laboratories requires reproducible positive and negative control samples. In many situations, suitable tissue or cell line controls are not available. We demonstrate here a method to incorporate target antigens into synthetic protein gels that can serve as IHC controls. The method can use peptides, protein domains, or whole proteins as antigens, and is compatible with a variety of fixation protocols. The resulting gels can be used to create tissue microarrays (TMAs) with a range of antigen concentrations that can be used to objectively quantify and calibrate chromogenic, fluorescent, or mass spectrometry-based IHC protocols. The method offers an opportunity to objectively quantify IHC staining results, and to optimize and standardize IHC protocols within and between laboratories. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:XXX-XXX, 2019).
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