Even with guidelines, the best thing to do is document any loss of
reactivity seen over time and modify your storage methods accordingly.
For example, we have found that control slides for ER, PR, MyoD1 et al,
have shown a definite loss of reactivity when stored at R.T. and
therefore store these in a -20 degree freezer.  Others, we store at R.T.
but don't use any that have been cut longer than 6 months.  And others
seem to store indefinitely at R.T. with no apparent loss of
antigenicity.  All of our paraffin blocks are stored at R.T.

Linda Sebree, HT
University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics
Department of Laboratory Medicine
IHC/ISH Laboratory
A4/204-2472
600 Highland Ave.
Madison, WI  53792-2472

Phone:  (608)265-6596
FAX:  (608)263-1568

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	gossg@po.lab.ccf.org [SMTP:gossg@po.lab.ccf.org]
> Sent:	Friday, October 16, 1998 4:23 PM
> To:	Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	IMMUNO QUESTION on CAP CHECKLIST
>
> This is a stupid question to those of you who do immuno all the time,
> but I'm
> totally foreign to this area & my supervisor couldn't give me an
> answer.
> Question 08:2260 Phase II
> Are control slides and/or tissues stored properly to ensure antigen
> retention?
> She said she stores everything at room temp & the inspector asks her
> if this was
> the recommended guideline & she said she didn't know that's just what
> they do.
> (Yes I know. One heck of a sup!) Anyway are there recommended
> guidelines that I
> can find somewhere?
> Thanks for any help.