Definition : Reagents that include labeled antibody substances intended for use as specific probes for protein and peptide antigens. These reagents permit the examination of single cells for specific markers to identify cell lines and/or to determine the cells synthetic capability. Labels may be either fluorescent or enzymatic; enzymatic labels make possible the test of fixed tissues embedded in paraffin. Light microscopy is usually employed to identify labeled features, but electron microscopy is also used in some methods. Immunocytochemistry reagents are widely used to determine substances (e.g., proteins) present in various tissue samples (e.g., frozen tissue, paraffin-embedded tissue, fine-needle aspirations), especially in neoplastic tumor cells.
Entry Terms : "Immunocytochemistry Reagents"
UMDC code : 20007