Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a diagnostic technique performed in a laboratory where special test is done on biopsy sample. This test is used to help diagnose disease more precisely. IHC helps to distinguish between different types and subtypes of a disease by identifying specific molecules within cells, known as markers. This is commonly performed in cancer cases, to know where is the cancer located, what type of cells started it and how fast or slow the cancer is growing. The most common type of cancer tharequires IHC is breast cancer to know if it has HERS2 markers or not which tells if cancer is fast growing. Other cancers such as prostate cancer, lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer also require IHC. A biopsy specimen is sliced and dipped into dyes to detect the markers.