Antibodies are forever: a study using 12–26‐year‐old expired antibodies

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate whether the shelf-life of diagnostic antibodies is longer than the expiry date on the label. Methods and results Four independent laboratories tested a small number of diagnostic antibodies kept at +4°C for 12–26 years, and found them to work perfectly on routine histology sections. Conclusions Diagnostic antibodies may have a workable half-life in excess of 10 years, and the emphasis on performance should shift to the preservation of antigenic targets in the tissue.