Which pathology technique utilizes antibodies for diagnosis?

Immunohistochemistry is a pathology technique that employs antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissue sections. This method hinges on the principle that antibodies can bind specifically to their target antigens, which allows pathologists to visualize the presence and distribution of proteins in tissue samples.

In this technique, the tissue is prepared and treated with specific primary antibodies that recognize the target protein. Following this, secondary antibodies, which are typically conjugated to a detectable marker (such as a fluorescent dye or enzyme), are used to bind to the primary antibodies. The result is a colored reaction product or a fluorescence signal that indicates where the target protein is located within the tissue, aiding in the diagnosis of diseases and conditions.

This method is particularly powerful in identifying specific markers that can characterize various types of tumors or infectious agents, making it a crucial tool in both diagnostic histopathology and research settings.

Other techniques, while also significant in pathology, do not rely on the specific utilization of antibodies for diagnosis. Immunofluorescence similarly uses antibodies but is primarily focused on visualizing protein location in cells rather than tissue sections specifically as achieved by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy provides high-resolution images of cellular structures but does not utilize antibodies for antigen detection. Cytogenetic