title: Improved detection of mycobacteria species in formalin-fixed tissue sections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an antibody broadly reactive against mycobacterial species, which will improve detection of mycobacteria in tissue sections by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A sheep antisera was developed by immunization with multiple mycobacteria, and was tested by IHC against a range of mycobacteria in tissues from many species, as well as negative tissue controls and other bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sheep antiserum, MAS-01, reacted with all 18 mycobacterial species tested, but did not react with uninfected inflammatory tissues. Although MAS-01 cross-reacted with two microbial genera which are related to mycobacteria (Corynebacteria and Proprionibacteria), it did not with Nocardia or Actinomyces. The antibody was more sensitive than the Ziehl-Neelsen stain for detection of tissue mycobacteria, and shortened the time required to identify these infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MAS-01 antiserum will facilitate rapid identification of tissue mycobacterial infection by histopathologists.
authors.affiliation: TissuPath Specialist Pathology, Mount Waverley, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012756:Sheep; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde