Citraconic anhydride: a new antigen retrieval solution

Background: The introduction of heat-induced antigen retrieval has been a major milestone in diagnostic immunohistochemistry, enabling the application of many antibodies to fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. A number of important variables affect the preservation of tissue antigens, among which are analytical variables including the antigen retrieval methodology. Temperature of retrieval, duration of heating, source of heat, pH and nature of retrieval solution are among more important variables pivotal to results. Citrate buffer at pH 6.0 has become widely embraced as the universal fixative but some antibodies remain capricious and yield poor staining results.Methods: This study examines the recent suggestion that citraconic anhydride may be a suitable universal retrieval reagent. Immunostaining of 65 commonly employed antibodies following microwave antigen retrieval in 0.05% citraconic anhydride for 10 minutes at 98°C was compared with consecutive tissues sections subjected to antigen retrieval in ...