Quality Control in Modern Immunohistochemistry: Real-time Performance Characteristics and Quality Control of Important Widely Used Antibodies

摘要

The affiliation of Applied Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Morphology (AIMM) with the International Society of Applied Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Morphology already has resulted in a series of articles relating to the proper selection and use of controls. These authoritative and comprehensive guides were generated by a group of experienced pathologists under the aegis of International Society for Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Morphology (ISIMM) and the major immunohistochemistry (IHC) quality-control organizations. Together they represent the recommended standards for the modern practice IHC, extending into the era of personalized medicine. The current issue of AIMM introduces a new ISIMM-sponsored series of quality control papers, with this series having as its primary focus the performance characteristics of widely used and important primary antibodies. NordiQC, as one of the leading quality-control organizations, conducts regular, external, closely controlled assessments of the performance of antibodies in IHC immunoassays across multiple laboratories. Results from the multiple participating laboratories are reported back to NordiQC and representative slides for each antibody from each laboratory are examined centrally by NordiQC pathologist panels. The results are compared and analyzed generating a wealth of data, not only upon the comparative performance of laboratories, but also upon the performance of specified antibodies across different laboratories. The intent of this new series is to mine this unique data set and make the findings widely available in an objective nonbiased manner. The report on antibodies against Sox 10 in the current issue of AIMM represents the first of the series that will be published approximately quarterly, each describing a different primary antibody.