Quality management in immunohistochemistry

Quality management in immunohistochemistry involves having quality control and quality assurance programs in place in the laboratory. This review aims to highlight the essential elements of both. These programs begin with having a dedicated and well-informed pathologist medical director and qualified and well-trained technologists who work together on a daily basis. Their aim is to maintain immunohistochemical test slides of high quality and proper interpretation of those results by the pathology staff. Key components of quality control include optimising pre-test variables (such as fixation and proper grossing and sectioning of tissue, among others) and test variables (such as epitope retrieval technique, antibody titration and validation, detection systems and proper tissue controls). Quality assurance measures include knowledge of patterns of reactivity and proper panel selection, ongoing education of pathologists and technical staff, daily review of slides, robust internal and external consultation practices, and participation in external quality assessment programs. Instituting and following these measures will allow the laboratory to maintain the highest standards in the practice of diagnostic immunohistochemistry.