Immunohistochemistry Paraffin Troubleshooting

No Signal | Background | Sectioning Tissue

The following troubleshooting guide is intended to explain causes and possible solutions for common problems observed in immunohistochemistry paraffin (IHC-P) staining.

No Signal

Antibody Application

• Increase the concentration or incubation time of the primary or secondary antibody.

Tissue Fixation

• Over fixation can cause epitope masking. Decrease the time or concentration of the fixative.
• Under fixation can cause heavy edge staining with little to no positive signal in middle of your specimen.

Antibody compatibility

• Confirm that your primary and secondary antibodies are compatible by checking the species reactivity.
• Confirm the antibody can be used for assays in which the protein is in its native conformation.
• Ensure that the secondary is working and compatible with your primary.

Permeabilization

• Use 0.5-1.0% Triton detergent in the buffers in order to allow full permeabilization of antibody and buffers into the tissue sections.

Microscope Adjustments (Fluorescence)

• Increase the exposure time of your camera.

 

Background

Antibody Concentration

• Decrease the concentration of the primary/secondary antibody.

Blocking

• The species of the blocking serum should be the same as the host of the secondary antibody e.g. use goat serum for blocking if your assay involves goat anti-mouse secondary.
• Increase the incubation time or concentration of serum in the blocking buffer.

Antibody Application

• Always incubate primary antibodies overnight at 4° C. Room temperature incubation increases unspecific binding and causes higher background.
• Confirm that the secondary is not crossreacting with the cells by performing the assay without the primary.

DAB Reaction

• Do not overexpose the DAB reaction. Rinse DAB off slides sooner.
• Endogenous peroxidases are activating the reaction. Quench with hydrogen peroxide.

ABC Method

• Endogenous biotin is activating the complex. Block with avidin/biotin blocking kit.

Cells Drying

• Fluorescent signal will be lost if the cells are allowed to dry. Ring coverslips with nail polish.

Microscope Adjustments (Fluorescence)

• Increase the exposure time of your camera.

Spectral Overlap (Fluorescence)

• If double or triple labeling the cells, confirm that the secondaries do not overlap into the same spectral range

Washing

• Increase the amount of washes. Add very gentle agitation to the plates.

 

Sectioning Tissue

Holes in the tissue

• Ensure the blade is adequately sharp. Adjust the cutting speed. Perfuse at a lower rate.

Tissue Falling Off Slides

• Use coated slides. Place slides in covered dish with a small amount of 16% formaldehyde on the bottom to fix the tissues to the slides. Be gentle when using an antigen retrieval method and avoid heavy agitation of the slides.