[Histonet] ER and PR Controls

[Vickroy, Jim]

Lately I have been reviewing our controls on many of our IHC stains.   As I was reading a CAP article it caused me to question our ER and PR controls currently being used.   Our control has two pieces of tissue in it.  One is  a breast tumor positive for ER and PR and the other is a breast tumor negative for ER and PR.   The article suggested that we should also use a "tumor that shows low or intermediate levels of expression to more sensitively assess subtle drift in assay performance."

Of course our current control blocks show staining of normal epithelial cells which also helps us assess sensitivity.   My question is what are others using now for controls for ER and PR and how have CAP inspection members been handling this lately.

I would appreciate your procedure or opinion.

Thanks

PS. Our Her2 control blocks also have a tumor that is 3+ and a tumor that is 0-1+.


James Vickroy BS, HT(ASCP)

Surgical  and Autopsy Pathology Technical Supervisor
Memorial Medical Center
217-788-4046


________________________________
This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.