What is immunohistochemistry?

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a technique that can be used to identify specific cell types in a given sample. This procedure can be used for a wide range of purposes, from pure research in which people want to learn more about the distribution of certain types of cells to explore cancer tumors to determine the source and the stage of cancer. In order to make immunohistochemistry, it is necessary to have access to the laboratory along with a number of specialized products that will be used to prepare and test the sample. Antibodies are looking for specific antigens in the sample and if they find the antigen, which coincides, they lock. Furthermore, the sample is a mistake to remove excess antibodies that have found that the cells bind.

At this stage, a researcher or pathologist uses special labels that have been added to antibodies. These labels classically take the form of enzymes that will be fluorescent when the sample is exposed to a light wavelelengths, although it is also possible to use antibodies as a stain to highlight specific tissue types. When you see which antibodies glued to the sample, it is possible to determine which types of cells are present and create a detailed image of cell types in the sample.

When a pathologist examines a cancer sample, immunohistochemistry is very important. Using this technique, the pathologist can find out where the cancer was created in the body, searching for cells that do not belong to the sample. For example, breast cells in the liver would indicate that the tumor was actually a breast cancer that metastasized to the liver. Antibodies can also be used to identify malignancy, which can help the pathologist determine the cancer phase.

While immunohistochemistry is detailed, serious and final business, the results may be strangely visually attractive, with clear spots and stripes of color on the sample, indicating the presence of different cell types. Especially in cases where antibodies have been marked with enzymes that react to the light of fluorescence can be a slipAvka quite alive and colorful, even though it contains persistent news.