Immunohistochemistry
By
Cancer Council NSW
A laboratory method that uses antibodies to check for certain antigens (markers) in a sample of tissue or cells.
The antibodies can only bind to the antigen they are specific for, and are usually linked to an enzyme or a fluorescent dye to allow later visualisation under a microscope as an indirect confirmation of the presence of the marker/antigen under investigation.
Immunohistochemistry is used to help diagnose diseases, such as cancer. It may also be used to help tell the difference between different types of cancer and can be used for grading to determine the cancer stages.
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