Proficiency testing in immunohistochemistry-experiences from Nordic Immunohistochemical Quality Control (NordiQC)

摘要: Despite extensive use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for decades, lack standardization remains a major problem, even aggravated in the era targeted therapy. Nordic Immunohistochemical Quality Control (NordiQC) is an international academic proficiency testing (PT) program established 2003 primarily aimed at assessing analytical phases laboratory IHC quality. About 700 laboratories from 80 countries are currently participating. More than 30,000 slides have been evaluated during 2003-2015. Overall, about 20 % staining results breast cancer module and 30 general assessed as insufficient diagnostic use. The most common causes less successful antibodies (poor robust antibodies, poorly calibrated ready-to-use (RTU) products, stainer platform-dependent antibodies; 17 %), insufficiently antibody dilutions (20 or erroneous epitope retrieval (27 sensitive visualization systems (19 other (heat- proteolysis-induced impaired morphology, endogenous biotin reaction, drying out phenomena, platform-dependant protocol issues; %). Approximately, 90 characterized by either too weak false negative staining, whereas remaining 10 %, poor signal-to-noise ratio positive seen. Individually tailored recommendations optimization identification best tissue controls to ensure appropriate calibration assay many markers improved well inter-laboratory consistency results. RTUs will not always provide optimal result data sheets frequently misguide hampering improvement overall generated NordiQC 12 years indicates that continuous PT valuable necessary. Detailed description programme available on www.nordiqc.org summarized this paper.