Bill,

Use whatever pretreatment is suggested for your particular antibody.  If the
negative controls were retrieved (with either enzyme or HIER), you'll get
poor results.  In the event that the negative controls underwent antigen
retrieval, you should consider performing immunostaining on H&E's from that
case.  

Good Luck,

Glen A. Dawson  BS, HT & IHC (ASCP)
Lead IHC Technologist
Milwaukee, WI

-----Original Message-----
From: McMeekin, Bill [mailto:Bill.McMeekin@nuth.northy.nhs.uk]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 8:35 AM
To: 'Histonet'
Subject: Re-immunostaining slides


Dear histonetters

We have been asked to immunostain some sections that have previously been
immunostained (but as negative controls with no primary antibodies applied).
Apart from de-coverslipping them and giving them a good wash, should any
pretreatment be required to remove the effects of the original immuno?

If they had had a primary applied, what (if any) pretreatment would remove
original antibodies/chromagen,  retain antigenicity and allow restaining?

Thanks

Bill McMeekin
Senior Chief Biomedical Scientist
Neuropathology
Newcastle General Hospital
Phone: +44 191 256 3830
Fax: +44 191 256 3196
E-mail: bill.mcmeekin@nuth.northy.nhs.uk