Molecular Pathology

Breast HER2

General Information

The section offers a comprehensive HER2 analysis service for breast cancers. Immunohistochemistry, with the Roche/Ventana 4B5 antibody, is used to screen patients for expression levels of the HER2 protein and identify those “over-expressers” who are most likely to benefit from treatment with Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Where expression levels are equivocal, FISH is used to determine amplification at the gene level. Service users may access the full service, or submit cases for FISH analysis only if performing their own IHC.

What to send:

  • Paraffin block from biopsy, resection or cell block
  • Unstained mounted sections at 3μm on charged slides for IHC on ROCHE TOMO slides. Slides dried at 37°C
  • A labelled reference slide highlighting the desired area for analysis, as appropriate 

Please note tissue handling, tissue fixation, time between cutting and staining and excessive drying can lead to loss of expression. Fixatives containing alcohol should not be used and use of Bouin’s fixative will preclude testing by FISH methods.

A copy of the original Pathology report where possible.

Breast HER2 Request Form

Specifications

  • EQA Status: NEQAS

Related Tests

Gastric HER2

Creation Date

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Modification Date

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

General Information

General information about the website and its content

Read more

Location of Laboratories

Where the laboratories are located and information about the services offered at each laboratory

Read more

Copyright UHB Pathology 2018

Protection of Personal Information – Clinical Laboratory Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • Musculoskeletal laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 9897
  • Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217.

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://qehbpathology.uk/test-database

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962