Being a breast cancer survivor, (and Her2 positive) this issue is very close
to me.    It frightens me to read of labs performing this test on anything
but 10% NBF fixed tissue and using any immuno test but the DAKO hercepttest.
If any of these patients are going to be in a clinical trial, the Her2 must
be done by the only FDA approved test for Her2.    Try to remember if it was
your tissue how you would want it tested.     

Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Arkansas Children's Hospital

Phone - 501.364.4240
Fax - 501.364.3912 

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Cartun [mailto:Rcartun@harthosp.org] 
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 5:28 PM
To: DPALLP@aol.com; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: c-erbB-2 antibody


F.Y.I. - There is an article in the June issue of Applied
Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Morphology  titled, "Standard Reference
Material for Her2 Testing.  Report of a National Institute of Standards and
Technology-sponsored Consensus Workshop".  The workshop participants
strongly recommended that Her2 testing be performed only on tissue fixed in
10% buffered formalin.

Richard Cartun

>>>  07/08/03 02:57PM >>>
We have been using the Ventana Pathway c-erbB-2 antibody with good results.

We don't follow their exact protocol (our tissue is fixed in zinc formalin 
among other things).  I would like to switch to their cheaper Confirm
antibody 
and was hoping that someone has tried both and is willing to share their 
experiences.  Thank you.

Susie Duhon, HT(ASCP)QIHC
Diagnostic Pathology Associates, LLP
Beaumont, Texas
409-842-8222
409-842-8244 (fax)



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