Record - 8

TI- Extension of useful reagent shelf life beyond manufacturers'
    recommendations
AU- Tubbs, RR;Nagle, R;Leslie, K;Pettigrew, NM;Said, JW;Corwin, DJ;
    Rickert, RR;Roche, PC
JN- ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE
PY- 1998
VO- 122
NO- 12
PG- 1051-1052
AB- Objective.-The College of American Pathologists Cell Markers
    Committee designed a study to evaluate the use of
    immunohistochemistry primary antibodies beyond manufacturers'
    recommended dates.
    Methods.-Pathologists were asked to save aliquots of primary
    antibodies during mid-1997 so that by spring 1998 the reagents would
    be ''outdated'' according to manufacturers' recommendations. Three
    tumors were immunostained both in mid-1997 and early 1998 (using
    outdated reagents in 1998). Two hundred twenty-one laboratories
    participated.
    Patient Samples.-Immunostained materials consisted of an
    angiomyolipoma immunostained for muscle-specific actin and HMB-45, a
    melanoma immunostained for S100 protein and HMB-45, and a large cell
    lymphoma immunostained for common leukocyte antigen and HMB-45.
    Blocks from the same tumor were used in each instance.
    Main Outcome Measure.-We compared the immunostaining results as a
    percentage of laboratories indicating a positive or negative
    immunohistochemical result between the 1997 and 1998 time points.
    Results.-Only minor differences were identified for the 221 reporting
    laboratories in 1998 as compared with those in 1997.
    Conclusions.-The data suggest review of the Health Care Financing
    Administration's ruling on extending the useful reagent shelf life
    beyond manufacturers recommendations. Similar studies using more
    inherently quantitative methodology are suggested


PG- 1152

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