A comparison of immunocytochemical staining enhancement methods using a rapid microtitre immunocytochemistry assay (MIA).

A method is described which allows rapid and quantitative comparison of immunocytochemical staining procedures. Cells grown and fixed in microtitre plates are probed with increasing dilutions of primary antibody and then stained using the procedures under test; the resulting staining intensities are determined using a microtitre plate reader. The microtitre immunocytochemistry assay (MIA) has been used to compare the sensitivities of enhancement procedures based on immunoperoxidase and immunogold staining. Silver enhancement of DAB staining was found to be the most sensitive technique giving up to 200 fold amplification of the peroxidase staining.