Diagnostic immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a rapidly changing field. Automated stainers have improved the quality and consistency of IHC stains and at the same time, made troubleshooting and improving suboptimal stains more difficult. Widespread use of the diagnostic needle core biopsy has created a novel set of IHC interpretation issues. Hybridized animal antibodies bring a unique set of advantages and disadvantages to diagnostic IHC.

The format of this course is a series of short lectures pertaining to automated IHC including interpreting IHC in small needle core biopsies, advantages and disadvantages of recent commercial antibodies, and troubleshooting for pathologists regarding the most common causes (and our list of most likely solutions) of suboptimal automated IHC stains. This course differs from past IHC courses in that it does not use a case model approach or cover set antibody panels for specific diagnostic differential situations. This course is designed for practicing and in-training anatomic pathologists.

The objectives of this course are to provide pathologists with an understanding about the components of interpreting IHC stain results and their interrelationship, update information regarding recently developed types of antibody and clones, including their potential applications, and provide a approaches for pathologists to troubleshoot suboptimal automated IHC stains.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to critically interpret the validity of results of immunohistochemistry studies, understand the differences in how stains should be interpreted in small and large specimens, understand how some of newer antibodies could be applied in their laboratory, and understand the main causes of suboptimal stains using contemporary automated immunostainers. A handout and syllabus of the power point slides presented in the course will be provided at the course. A CD of course materials will be mailed after the meeting.