Here's my experiences doing ICC on cytospins. I have found that certain
fixatives can impair ICC. TTF does not work for us after alcohol or acetone
fixation. I've had the best luck with various CD markers using acetone not
alcohol fixed. Most keratins, etc work well with either. Frankly, I prefer
to receive the cytospins unfixed. Barring that, when I worked in a hospital
I had a good rapport with the cytologist. She usually brought me the
cytospins unfixed. If I was unavailable, she would fix the majority in
alcohol and leave a couple unfixed. If the suspected diagnosis was lymphoma,
the majority of cytospins would be left unfixed. I agree that the issue of
controls is problematic. Ideally controls would be known positive cells made
into cytospins when you receive your case. In reality, we usually use frozen
sections fixed in the same manner as the cytospins. We have purchased a few,
select cell lines as possible control material & are evaluating that. Hope
this all makes sense. Let me know if you have questions.

Patti Loykasek
Phenopath Laboratories
Seattle, WA>

 Here's a message Ronnie is having trouble posting to the list.
> Please reply to the list or to him directly. Thanks.
> 
> From: Houston, Ronnie
> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 9:45 AM
> To: Histonet (E-mail)
> Subject: ICC on Cytospins
> 
> 
> Could you share what fixation parameters you are using on cytospins for
> ICC;
> there are conflicting reports in the literature about what is best for
> different antibodies, and it is impractical to have different fixation
> protocols for each antibody, so what is being commonly employed?
> At present, our cytospins are received in 95% alcohol; and this brings
> up
> the related question of adequate control material being identically
> processed?
> 
> Thanks
> Ronnie Houston
> Regional Histology Operations Manager
> Bon Secours HealthPartners Laboratories
> 5801 Bremo Road
> Richmond, VA 23226
> (804) 287 7972
> ronnie_houston@bshsi.com
>