[Histonet] Using expired reagents in IHC

[Joe Nocito]

Amy,
when I was at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in Washington
D.C., we froze some antibodies in 1982 at -80 and were still using them when
I left there in 1991. Sometimes we had to retiter the antibody because we
think that keeping antibodies at the temp for a long time had a freeze-dried
effect, which made the antibody more concentrated. That was before all these
new regulations came into play.

Joe Nocito BS, HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Manager
Pathology Reference Lab
San Antonio, TX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Amy Porter" <portera203 <@t> yahoo.com>
To: "Richard Cartun" <Rcartun <@t> harthosp.org>;
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Using expired reagents in IHC


> I am curious if the negative responses from the inspection teams include
primary antibodies that have been aliquoted and frozen.  Do they consider
those expired if they are past the expiration date suggested by the
manufacturer?  We are undergoing CAP inspection on Friday (5th) feed back
would be appreciated.  I think that it is crazy with all of the hoops the
have us jumping through with documentation for testing and validating, that
they would make us discard the $$$$$$$$ in primaries.  Makes no sense to me
either.  I will be interested to see what happens with our inspection.
>
> Richard Cartun <Rcartun <@t> harthosp.org> wrote:It has been brought to my
attention that the CAP Laboratory checklist
> has been revised as of 9/30/04 and now includes a question, "Are all
> immunohistochemical reagents used within their indicated expiration
> dates?". I have always believed that it is acceptable to use expired
> regents (mainly primary antibodies) as long as their reactivity is
> acceptable and documented. Obviously, the expiration date that
> manufactures use is not an accurate reflection of the reagent's
> likelihood of poor performance. Does anyone have information on this
> change? Thank you.
>
> Richard
>
> Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
> Director, Immunopathology & Histology
> Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
> Hartford Hospital
> 80 Seymour Street
> Hartford, CT 06102
> (860) 545-1596
> (860) 545-0174 Fax
>
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>
>
> Amy S.Porter, HT(ASCP)
> Michigan State University
> Department of Physiology
> Division of Human Pathology
> College of Human Medicine
> portera203 <@t> yahoo.com
>
>
>
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