HBc antigen immunodetection: Formalin versus Bouin's solution fixation
(1999) Applied Immunohistochemistry — Vol. 7, n° 1, p. 58-62 (1999)
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- Immunohistochemical detection of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), a reliable marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, is routinely performed in chronic hepatitis B on paraffin-embedded liver biopsies regardless of fixation technique. Due to sensitivity discrepancies observed in the HbcAg immunodetection, we prospectively investigated the role of the type of fixative solution (formalin versus Bouin's solution) in 32 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B. Results were compared with those of serum HBV-DNA determined by liquid hybridization. The biopsy core was divided into two parts, one immersed in 4% buffered formalin and the other in Bouin Alien's solution for 24 hours before paraffin embedding. HbcAg immunodetection, performed with a rabbit polyclonal antibody, was revealed by the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. Nuclear HBcAg positivity, observed in 21 cases, was solely confined to formalin fixed material in five cases and was more intense after formalin than after Bouin's solution fixation in the 16 other cases. Cytoplasmic HBcAg positivity, observed in 15 cases, was solely confined to formalin fixed material in 12. Eleven cases remained negative whichever the fixation, seven of these being also serum HBV-DNA negative. Conversely, all but three cases positive by immunohistochemistry were serum HBV-DNA positive, the three exceptions being serum anti-HBe positive. In conclusion, formalin fixation is significantly superior to Bouin's solution fixation for HBcAg immunodetection. With regard to HBV replication, the sensitivity of this detection is at least similar to that obtained with serum HBV-DNA determined by liquid hybridization.
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Sempoux, C., Horsmans, Y., Rahier, J., Stevens, M., Cornu, C., & Geubel, A. (1999). HBc antigen immunodetection: Formalin versus Bouin’s solution fixation. Applied Immunohistochemistry, 7(1), 58-62. https://doi.org/10.1097/00022744-199903000-00012 (Original work published 1999)