24033 - Immunohistochemistry Techniques

Learning outcomes

As main learning outcome students will be able to plan and manage immunohistochemical tecniques and internal quality control in the histopathological laboratory. They also will acquire specific guidelines to critically review their work in order to improve the final product tuning it on histopathological demands.

Course contents

The teaching plan is organized as follows:

1. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
2. Immunohistochemical techniques: direct, indirect and pre-formed ABC complex techniques
3. Endogenous biotin and non-biotin techniques: is mandatory to see what really is present
4. Antigenic preservation and fixatives: Antigen Retrieval tecniques
5. Choosing the optimal reagent: how to read a data sheet
6. Determination of the optimal antibody dilution: reference material and critical evaluation of the results
7. How to use internal/external positive control tissue
8. Diagnostic algorithms
9. Prognostic-predictive application of immunohistochemical techniques
10. Internal/External Quality Assurance

Readings/Bibliography

luigi ruco & aldo scarpa: anatomia patologica: le basi, utet 2007. nature methods: a magazine, available in nature.com, free at the university library internet points
I am in a quandary. the "ruco scarpa" appears to be the most comprehensive among pathology textbooks. the topics are produced with a very 'à la mode' style. nevertheless, the language is often obscure and the illustrations are sometimes ugly. you can find it in the 'nuove patologie' library ... just like nature.com, free, of course until the bologna university can afford a subscription fee

Teaching methods

formal classes

Assessment methods

informal discussion of the topics produced in the formal classes. an intensive involvement is recommended, in order to reduce the home-study time and to render the final oral examination obsolete

Teaching tools

power point presentations

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Scarani