I apologize for the delay in responding to your e-mail; I just returned from the 2014 Applied IHC and Molecular Morphology meeting in Miami where this subject was discussed (as you might expect).
The answer is, "Yes". The bottom line is that every laboratory running non-avidin-biotin-based diagnostic IHC tests must evaluate their own experience with "Negative Reagent Controls" (NRCs). If they prove useful to the pathologists reading the IHC slides, continue to run them. If not, discontinue them and conserve precious patient tissue/cells that can be used for additional testing, and, at the same time, save you laboratory thousands of dollars. I have an Editorial on this subject coming out in a major journal next month. I've been told that there is an article coming as well. I added "NRC" to our antibody dictionary years ago so that pathologists can order a NRC whenever they need it "after" reviewing their IHC slides. During a 5 year period, only "28" NRCs were ordered and I ordered "22" of them (primarily for education and teaching purposes). Keep in mind that my laboratory runs 40-50,000 IHC tests per year. Make you own decision .... Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology & Immunopathology Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 972-1596 Office (860) 545-2204 Fax richard.car...@hhchealth.org -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Abbott, Tanya Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 1:54 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Negative Controls for IHC I just read in Advance Dec 2013 that there is a possibility of laboratories utilizing fewer QC controls to cut costs? Has anyone stopped running negative controls for IHC? Tanya G. Abbott RT (CSMLS) Manager Technologist, Histology/Cytology St. Joseph Medical Center Reading, PA 19603-0316 ph 610-378-2635 fax 610-898-5871 email: tanyaabb...@catholichealth.net This electronic mail and any attached documents are intended solely for the named addressee(s) and contain confidential information. If you are not an addressee, or responsible for delivering this email to an addressee, you have received this email in error and are notified that reading, copying, or disclosing this email is prohibited. If you received this email in error, immediately reply to the sender and delete the message completely from your computer system. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message, including any attachments. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
