Immunohistochemistry (
IHC) refers to the process of detecting
antigens (e.g. proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of
antibodies binding specifically to antigens in
biological tissues. IHC takes its name from the roots "immuno", in reference to antibodies used in the procedure, and "histo," meaning tissue (compare to
immunocytochemistry). The procedure was conceptualized and first implemented by
Albert Coons in 1941.