title: [Immunohistochemistry--more than a staining method].
abstract: Immunohisto/cytochemistry is a versatile and potent in situ molecular probing method that is increasingly applied both for diagnostic purposes and as a research tool in immunology, pathology, cell biology, embryology, cell kinetics and carcinogenesis. In theory, the methodology is not complicated, but in practice it presents many surprising difficulties. Such problems can be masked by the uncritical use of apparently simple commercial kits. It is important to be aware of the advantages and drawbacks of the available technical modifications. This is also true with respect to the choice of immunological reagents, whether polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies are employed. Even a monoclonal antibody can produce spurious results, with a potential for severe misinterpretations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium for immunhistokjemi og immunpatologi (LIIPAT), Institutt for patologi, Universitetet i Oslo, Rikshospitalet.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brandtzaeg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal