Immunohistochemistry, Quality Control, and Principles of Validation in the Central Nervous System.

The conventional hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E) is vital for the histological diagnosis but the role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the central nervous system is undeniable. Immunohistochemical techniques detect antigens in tissue sections by immunological and chemical reactions. This chapter reviews the preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic phases of immunohistochemistry, as well as the principles of quality control and validation.