OPTIMIZATION OF HEAT-INDUCED EPITOPE RETRIEVAL FOR ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR DETERMINATION BY IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY ON PARAFFIN SECTIONS - RESULTS OF A MULTICENTRIC COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Fifteen centers assessed the effect of heating time on antigen retriev al for estrogen receptor using antibody 1D5 on paraffin sections of br east cancers. An optimal heat-induced epitope retrieval time could be determined for each center. Results suggest that (a) each laboratory m ust determine its optimal time for antigen retrieval and should not re ly blindly on indications mentioned in articles or in the technical sh eets accompanying commercial antibodies; (b) a step toward better inte rlaboratory reproducibility will be accomplished when every laboratory uses an antigen retrieval time optimized for its immunohistochemical protocol.