title: Air-dried smears for optimal diagnostic immunocytochemistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To exploit formalin-postfixed, air-dried smears for diagnostic immunocytochemistry (ICC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 144 cases of diagnostic fine needle cytology samples in which air-dried, supplementary smears were available was used to exploit postfixation in the process of antigenic stabilization and rescue for immunocytochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postfixation with formalin and with a formalin/ethanol solution gave comparable results as far as recovery and immunocytochemical detection of most monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The visualization of the antibody reactions was often superior to that obtained with wet-fixed slides, probably due to the interaction of slow cell dehydration with their consequent optimal flattening observed with formalin postfixation after short rehydration in physiologic saline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although wet fixation of cytopathologic slides in 95% ethanol represents a common standard for ICC, the usage of formalin-postfixed air-dried smears proved reliable and efficient for antigenic rescue and may enter routine usage in cytopathology laboratories. Moreover, in some instances, the visual evaluation of results was easier in the larger, well-flattened cells obtained in air-dried cells.
authors.affiliation: Cytopathology Service, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy. franco.fulciniti@gmail.com
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fulciniti
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frangella
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staiano
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demuru
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.forename: Mathilde E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boon
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003890:Desiccation; D000431:Ethanol; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D000431:Ethanol