What is the difference between immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry?

Immunofluorescence uses a fluorophore to detect the epitope. this means that a confocal or other fluorescent microscope has to be used for analysis. the fluorescence emission can directly be measured. immunohistochemistry does not use a fluorophore, but instead enzymes to detect the epitope. this bond is visualised by the reaction of the enzyme with the epitope and the substrate, and the change in stain/colour that produces. this means that the sample can be analysed using a light microscope. this technique is semi-quantitative since the absolute presence of the epitope cannot be measured.