[Histonet] RE: BK virus detection

[Dawson, Glen]

Bill,

I use this same antibody for BK virus on IHC.  What you need to do is use
enzyme rather than heat for epitope retrieval.  I use DAKO proteinase K for
4 minutes, 35 minute primary, 30 min. with DAKO Envision+ monoclonal, and 7
minutes of DAKO DAB+.  My dilution is at 1:6000.  

FYI: Don't be shy about demanding a different lot of antibody from this
company for their BK virus as I have gotten only 2 out of 4 lots to work.
The other 2 lots were a lost cause and I wasted at least 50 slides trying to
get them working to no avail.  The good antibody lots worked immediately and
I just had to fine tune them a bit.  Try it out at about 1:2000 first and
you should see striking results with BK virus positive kidney.  When the
antibody is working, it works extremely well. 

Good Luck,

Glen Dawson  BS, HT & QIHC (ASCP)
Immunohistology Coordinator
Milwuakee, WI