IHC Reagents and Services

Immunohistochemistry Services

LSBio immunohistochemistry services provide high-quality information about the localisation of proteins in normal and pathologic issues. For each protein studied, optimal antigen retrieval and IHC labeling conditions are identified, the tissues are immunostained and analysed by an anatomic pathologist, and the results are presented through an online client interface. All custom protein expression-profiling studies are confidential to the customer and are performed on a fee-for-service basis without royalties or milestone payments.

Study Design:

Each contract research study begins with a customer consultation to define the study goals, available resources, and the most optimal approach. LSBio has conducted hundreds of localisation studies for more than 100 companies worldwide, experience that can be applied to help ensure a successful study.

Antibodies:

Antibodies can be provided by the client, purchased from a commercial resource, acquired from the LSBio antibody inventory, or custom generated by LSBio.

Tissue Selection:

Customers work directly with LSBio to select tissue specimens or tissue microarrays that will best answer their biological question of interest. LSBio has over two million specimens in its tissue bank and can, in most cases, satisfy very specific parameters for analysis. Tissues can be animal or human, supplied by the client, acquired from the LSBio extensive human tissue bank, selected from the LSBio inventory of tissue microarrays, or collected prospectively by LSBio for the client. LSBio also offers custom tissue microarray design. Studies are then divided into two phases.

Phase I: Antibody and Assay Optimisation

Customers can use their own antibody, LSBio antibodies, commercial antibodies, or generate proprietary antibodies with the LSBio antibody production service. LSBio subsequently optimises the assay conditions for the antibody with the use of specified positive and negative control tissues. Optimisation involves performing a serial dilution of the antibody to establish the optimal staining concentration and may involve optimising antigen retrieval conditions to improve the antibody's signal-to-noise ratio on tissue samples.

Phase II: Analysis and Reporting

LSBio tests each selected tissue with control antibodies to ensure that antigen preservation requirements are met. The experimental antibody is then used under the optimised assay conditions to immunostain the tissues of interest. The resulting localisation pattern is then interpreted by a LSBio anatomic pathologist and digital photomicrographs are taken to demonstrate the localisation that is reported by the pathologist.

Deliverables:

Upon the conclusion of each study, LSBio will provide a report detailing the assay conditions, the antibody dilution specifications, and localisation results for each tissue specimen assayed. Selected patient information, including the age, sex, cause of death or surgery, is provided with each sample. LSBio offers a variety of reporting formats to meet the varied needs of our customers. Reports are delivered digitally.