PREPARATION OF HEAT-LABILE ANTIGENS ON AIR-DRIED CYTOLOGIC SPECIMENS FOR IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of Zamboni's solution and stora ge medium for immunocytochemistry of Ki-67, p53 tumor suppressor gene product and CD3 on long-preserved, air-dried cytologic specimens. STUD Y DESIGN: Air-dried imprint cytologic specimens obtained from 13 lymph atic tissues and 13 colorectal cancers were fixed with Zamboni's solut ion and stored for various periods in storage medium including 50% gly cerol at -10 to -20 degrees C. Mouse monoclonal antibody PC, PAb 1801 and anti-leu-4 were used for immunostaining. RESULTS: Immunocytochemic al identification of Ki-67, p53 and CD3 was possible on specimens stor ed for 36, 32 and 16 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our method, usin g Zamboni's solution and storage medium, is feasible for immunocytoche mistry on long-preserved, air-dried cytologic specimens using the thre e antibodies we employed.