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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2018
Sections of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues are commonly used to detect antigens of diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic importance in patients with many types of cancers. Sections (- 5 μm thick) cut from paraffin-embedded tissues are mounted on glass slides usually one or two days before immunostaining. In some cases, paraffin blocks are no longer available, and so immunohistochemistry must be performed on unstained slides that have been prepared sometime ago. it is not uncommon in both clinical and research laboratories to store unstained paraffin-embedded sections on glass slides at room temperature. Also, research laboratories that serve as reference centers for multi-institutional studies store slides for future use in order to rapidly return the tissue blocks to the originating institution. Such institutions want tissue blocks returned to them as soon as possible, as this may have medicolegal implications.
Storage of sections also becomes necessary when one marker study is proceeding and future marker studies need to be followed.