A comparison of immunohistochemical stain quality in conventional and rapid microwave processed tissues

Same-day turnaround of pathology specimens is desirable in this era of managed care, and rapid microwave tissue processing produces histologic features of a quality equivalent to overnight processing. We studied whether microwave-assisted rapid tissue processing adversely affects the quality of immu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of clinical pathology 2006-02, Vol.125 (2), p.176-183
Main Authors: EMERSON, Lyska L, TRIPP, Sheryl R, BAIRD, Bradley C, LAYFIELD, Lester J, RALPH ROHR, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Histocytological Preparation Techniques - methods
Humans
Immunohistochemistry - standards
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Microwaves
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - analysis
Staining and Labeling - standards
Tissue Array Analysis
Tissue Fixation
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Summary:Same-day turnaround of pathology specimens is desirable in this era of managed care, and rapid microwave tissue processing produces histologic features of a quality equivalent to overnight processing. We studied whether microwave-assisted rapid tissue processing adversely affects the quality of immunohistochemical staining. We selected 30 specimens (20 neoplastic and 10 nonneoplastic) from our routine surgical pathology workload. Paired large tissue blocks were made from each specimen type, one for microwave-assisted rapid processing and one for conventional processing. Two microarrays of 60 punches each were made from the donor blocks. The microarray blocks were examined for intensity and extent of staining by 44 commonly used antibodies. Slides were reviewed independently by 2 pathologists blinded to the type of processing used. In 5,280 tissue punches examined, we found a high degree of concordance in quality, as measured by intensity and extent of immunohistochemical staining, between microwave and routinely processed tissues. Our study demonstrates that quality of immunohistochemical staining is similar between rapid microwave and conventional processing. The potential need for immunohistochemical analysis is not a contraindication for microwave-assisted rapid tissue processing.
ISSN:0002-9173
1943-7722
DOI:10.1309/GN6QCBMLLEATLK2M