Impact of fixer PH, fixation time, previous time without fixation on the expressivity of molecular markers of immunohistochemistry

Abstract

The exponential development of immunohistochemistry has become a fundamental piece for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of different pathologies, for this reason, the knowledge of histotechnology processing will allow the timely detection of those variables in the phases of the process that influence the expression of immunomarkers that would generate diagnostic errors, loss of economic and biological resources. OBJECTIVE: to establish the preanalytical handling conditions: fixative pH, fixation time, previous time without fixation, in the expression of immunohistochemical markers. METHODS: an updated documentary review of publications in the database of indexed journals PUBMED and others was carried out in relation to the pre-analytical process, tissue processing in the Pathological Anatomy laboratory, immunohistochemical technique, relationship between the result of markers of Immunohistochemistry and variations in fixative pH, fixation times and times prior to fixation since 2011, obtaining 57 publications which were consolidated and presented in this study. CONCLUSION: the importance of the pre-analytical process in its different phases is demonstrated, and its effect to obtain adequate lamellae for a correct analysis. Optimum fixation and fixation times at pH are vital in the pre-analytical phase.