IHC Tests (ImmunoHistoChemistry)

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a way to stain for a particluar protein on or in a cell. They are a combination of an antibody to a portion of the protein hooked to a colored stain. If the protein is there, the stain will appear a certain color - typically brown and if it is not then there will be an absence of color. Immunohistochemistry is used in breast cancer to see if the cells have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, epidermal growth factor receptors (such as Her2/neu). IHC stains are also used to look for cancer cells in sentinel nodes (staining for cytokeratin - a protein that is on breast cancer and other types of cancer cells).
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a way to stain for a particluar protein on or in a cell. They are a combination of an antibody to a portion of the protein hooked to a colored stain. If the protein is there, the stain will appear a certain color - typically brown and if it is not then there will be an absence of color. Immunohistochemistry is used in breast cancer to see if the cells have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, epidermal growth factor receptors (such as Her2/neu). IHC stains are also used to look for cancer cells in sentinel nodes (staining for cytokeratin - a protein that is on breast cancer and other types of cancer cells).