IHC and ICC: Common abbreviations
An explanation of the different IHC/ICC applications that we list on our datasheets, and what they refer to
There are a range of different approaches to immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunocytochemistry (ICC) including variations in sample preparation and/or staining. Each approach has a commonly used standard abbreviation. For any given antibody or reagent, we use this standard notation on our datasheets in order to specify the types of sample preparation / staining that each product should work for, as covered by our Abpromise™ guarantee.
See below for a summary of the different IHC/ICC applications that we list on our datasheets, and what they refer to.
Application | Summary | Sample prep | Detection |
Immunocytochemistry | Single cell layer deposited onto slide or plate
Fixation: immersion - generally in PFA or methanol
| Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection | |
IHC-P | Immunohistochemistry (paraffin-embedded) |
Sample embedded in paraffin prior to sectioning
| Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection |
IHC-Fr | Immunohistochemistry (frozen sections) | Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection | |
IHC-FoFr | Immunohistochemistry (perfusion fixed frozen sections) | Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection | |
IHC-FrFl | Immunohistochemistry (free-floating frozen sections) | Fixation: Immersion and perfusion
Sample is frozen prior to sectioning
Immunostaining takes place with the sample floating in solution.
| Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection |
Immunohistochemistry (whole-mount staining) | Fixation: immersion Tissue is not sectioned; immunostaining takes place on small pieces of tissue, usually embryos. Similar to ICC, but sample is generally much larger. | Direct or indirect colorimetric / fluorometric detection |
Note: there can be overlap between the different applications that we list on our datasheets.
For example:
- Immunofluorescence (IF) can include IHC and/or ICC. It refers exclusively to fluorescent detection being used on any type of cell or tissue sample and can be combined with any antibody-related application.
- IHC-P, on the other hand, refers to any IHC method where the tissue is embedded in paraffin. This means that subsequent immunostaining and detection could involve different approaches (e.g. colorimetric fluorimetric). When we list IHC-P as an application, we guarantee both colorimetric and fluorimetric detection to work.