RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 An enhanced immunocytochemical method for staining bone marrow trephine sections.
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 389
OP 393
DO 10.1136/jcp.50.5.389
VO 50
IS 5
A1 W N Erber
A1 J I Willis
A1 G J Hoffman
YR 1997
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/50/5/389.abstract
AB AIMS: The detection of cellular antigens in fixed decalcified bone marrow trephine (BMT) sections depends on the method of processing, the nature of the antigen and antibody, antigen retrieval techniques, and the sensitivity of the immunocytochemical method. This study evaluated a tyramide enhanced avidin-biotin immunostaining method on formalin fixed decalcified BMT sections to determine whether the method could detect previously undetectable antigens. METHODS: Nineteen BMT biopsies from a range of haematological disorders were evaluated with 43 antibodies to haemopoietic antigens using horseradish peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase detection methods, using the tyramide enhanced avidin-biotin immunostaining method. RESULTS: Compared with standard avidin-biotin immunostaining methods the tyramide enhanced immunostaining method showed enhanced signal intensity, gave positive labelling for antigens that require pretreatment by other methods, and previously unreactive antigens were detected. Primary antibodies could be used at up to 200 times higher dilutions. CONCLUSION: The tyramide enhanced immunostaining method, while retaining specificity, is highly sensitive and enables an increased number and range of antigens to be detected than previously possible. The method could be applied to BMT sections for the routine diagnosis and classification of haematological disorders.