IHC Marker - CK (HMW) Test

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an important adjunct in the diagnosis of neo-plastic skin diseases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) involves the process of selectively imaging antigens (e.g. proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of antibodies binding specifically to antigens in biological tissues. Immunohistochemical staining is widely used in the diagnosis of abnormal cells such as those found in cancerous tumors. Specific molecular markers are characteristic of particular cellular events such as proliferation or cell death. Immunohistochemistry is also widely used in basic research to understand the distribution and localization of biomarkers and differentially expressed proteins in different parts of a biological tissue.

There is no special preparation required for Immunohistochemistry tests. It is advisable that you follow the instructions given to you by the doctor.

IHC is used to show whether or not the cancer cells have HER2 receptors and/or hormone receptors on their surface. IHC is the most commonly used test to see if a tumor has too much of the HER2 receptor protein on the surface of the cancer cells. With too many HER2 receptors, the cells receive too many signals telling it to grow and divide. IHC is a commonly used technique because it is inexpensive to perform, doesn't require special equipment, and generally quite accurate. immunohistochemistry (IHC) will remain an important adjunct tool for the diagnosis of difficult cases, tumor staging and identification of genetic variants of therapeutic significance.

IHC Tests (Immuno Histo Chemistry) is a special staining process performed on fresh or frozen breast cancer tissue removed during biopsy. Immunohistochemistry is a technique used to determine the presence and level of specific cellular proteins. IHC measures protein expression using specially labeled antibodies that can bind to the proteins of interest. The antibody is mixed with the cellular components of the tumor. After a set amount of time, the mixture is rinsed and only those antibodies attached to their protein targets will remain. The presence of the antibodies can be detected by viewing the sample under a microscope because areas containing bound antibodies will appear a different color than areas lacking antibodies. Samples with more protein will bind more antibody and therefore appear darker. This allows the test to reveal not only whether a protein is present but also the relative amount of the protein. Test results are based on the strength of the staining and the percent of cells stained.