Fran,

Some epitopes tend to lose their antigenicity due to oxidation in cut paraffin sections.  We precut all our control slides and some, i.e. ER, PR, Ki67, etc. are stored in a -20 degree freezer until needed.  Others, that seem to be stable, are stored at R.T.  Once we figured out which antibody controls were stable and which weren't and stored them accordingly, we had no issues regarding loss of staining intensity.

Linda A. Sebree
University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics
IHC/ISH Clinical & Research Laboratory
DM223-VA
600 Highland Ave.
Madison, WI 53792
(608)265-6596
FAX:  (608)262-7174



-----Original Message-----
From: Fran Lemons [mailto:flemons@bhset.org]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 9:15 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Pre-cut controls


Does anyone know why IHC control slides cannot be cut ahead of time?  I've done it at other facilities, but I have been told it is not permissible here, without any explanation.  Any ideas?
Also, has anyone ever heard of refrigerating pre-cut IHC control slides?  One person suggested to me that they stopped cutting them ahead of time because they were getting condensation on them & the stains wouldn't work.  Then she informed me that they were stored in the fridge.  Seems to me the condensation would have formed upon removing the slides from a cold environment to a room temp.
Your thoughts/theories are appreciated.
Fran Walker
Histology Technical Specialist
ETBH Knoxville


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