The impact of crosslinking and non-crosslinking fixatives on antigen retrieval and immunohistochemistry.

•Tissue fixation has a major impact on antigen retrieval.•Changes in fixation or antigen retrieval protocols require re-verification and validation.•PAXgene fixation may require less stringent antigen retrieval than formalin fixation.•Antigen retrieval influences the sensitivity of immunohistochemistry.•Highest immunohistochemistry sensitivity may not correlate with medical utility.