The EnVision TM + system: a new immunohistochemical method for diagnostics and research. Critical comparison with the APAAP,

Abstract

Aim—To assess a newly developed immunohistochemical detection system, the EnVision TM +. Methods—A large series of diVerently processed normal and pathological samples and 53 relevant monoclonal antibodies were chosen. A chessboard titration assay was used to compare the results provided by the EnVision TM + system with those of the APAAP, CSA, LSAB, SABC, and ChemMate TM methods, when applied either manually or in a TechMate 500 immunostainer. Results—With the vast majority of the antibodies, EnVision TM + allowed two- to fivefold higher dilutions than the APAAP, LSAB, SABC, and ChemMateTM techniques, the staining intensity and percentage of expected positive cells being the same. With some critical antibodies (such as the anti-CD5), it turned out to be superior in that it achieved consistently reproducible results with diVerently fixed or overfixed samples. Only the CSA method, which includes tyramide based enhancement, allowed the same dilutions as the EnVision