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Abstract

A method and device is described for a quality control device for immunohistochemical testing of surgical biopsies. Immunohistochemistry testing involves the use of antibodies to detect the presence of proteins that have diagnostic or prognostic importance. In this invention, peptides are covalently attached to glass microscope slides. The peptides represent antibody contact sites to the native protein. Namely, the peptide contains the same amino acid sequence as the epitope in the native protein to where the antibody binds. Alternatively, peptides may not necessarily share the exact sequence as found in the native protein but they still bind to the antibody. To use this invention, tissue sections derived from surgical biopsies may be mounted on glass slides bearing the peptides. As the immunohistochemical stain is performed on the tissue section, a similar reaction sequence occurs at the site of the glass slide where the peptide is located. At the conclusion of the immunohistochemical stain, a colored reaction product deposits at the site of the peptide. Since the immunohistochemical reaction at the peptide is largely the same as that which occurs in the tissue section, the peptide serves a quality control function.

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First Claim