[Histonet] edge effect IHC

[Morken, Timothy]

I've seen edge effect in two instances: 

1) Fixation artifact: the tissue is differentially fixed so the edge is fixed more than the center. That makes staining different on the edge vs the center. This occurs when a piece is fixed whole, not sliced. Or could be a thick piece of tissue that does not get  fully fixed in the center.

The staining will be best in the area that has the proper fixation  - and that could be the edge or the interior, or there may be a gradient of staining toward the interior and the "proper" staining will be seen somewhere on the gradient. 

2) Drying artifact: liquid applied to the slide dries around the edges of the tissue so the outside edge is dry, or almost dry, and the center is still wet. Usually in this case the outside edge will have a lot of background, the interior will often be properly stained. The edge could be differentially moist or dry, so the staining or background is inconsistent in the tissue.


Tim Morken
Department of Pathology
UC San Francisco Medical Center




-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Gudrun Lang
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 8:19 AM
To: Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] edge effect IHC

 

Hi!

Can someone give me a nice description of the "edge effect" in IHC? Is there a common opinion about the causes?

 

Thank you

Gudrun Lang

 

 

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