Intensity of staining – Antibody Lexicon

May vary depending on the performace of the laboratory, biology of the tumor and analyzed sample. In some cases the intensity of staining may provide important diagnostic information.

A) Weaker staining of a subpopulation of cells as compared to normal cells should always rise the suspicion as illustated in a case of T-cell lymphoma.

CD3. Bone marrow biopsy with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Notice weaker staining of intravascular neoplastic T-cells as compared with normal scattered T-lymphocytes

B) Weaker staining of neoplastic B-cells for CD20 is characteristic for B-CLL

CD20. Staining in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (B-CLL). Neoplastic B-cells show weaker staining than normal B-lymphocytes. 40x

C) In most cases of B-CLL the neoplastic cells show weaker staining for CD5 as compared with surrounding T-lymphocytes.

CD5. Staining in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (B-CLL). Neoplastic B-cells show weaker staining than normal T-lymphocytes. 40x.

D) Weaker nuclear staining of HRS cells is characteristic for classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

PAX5. Staining of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells is usually weaker than surrounding B-lymphocytes in classic Hodgkin lymphoma. 40x.

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