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IHC Reports Explained

Reading an IHC Panel — What the Symbols Mean

An IHC report is full of plus signs, percentages and intensity grades. This page translates each term into plain language so you can follow what your oncologist is explaining to you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty, Surgical Oncologist, MBBS (AIIMS) · MS Surgery (AIIMS) · DNB Surg Onc · MRCS (Edinburgh) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • Positive is not the same as good — Whether positive helps or harms depends on which marker is being tested. Your oncologist explains what it means for your cancer.
  • The percentage matters — Two tumours can both be positive but carry very different amounts of the protein. The percentage says how widely it is expressed.
  • Intensity says how strongly — Cells can stain weakly, moderately or strongly. That difference is part of what your oncologist reads.
  • No single number tells the whole story — Positive or negative, percentage and intensity are read together — not any one of them alone.
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An IHC report describes each marker as positive or negative, then gives a percentage — the proportion of tumour cells showing the marker — and an intensity grade from 0 to 3. Your oncologist reads all three together. No single number tells the full story, and the meaning of each result depends on which marker it refers to.

What each term on an IHC report means

Positive (+)
The laboratory detected the marker protein in the tumour cells. What positive means clinically depends on which marker it refers to and your cancer type.
Negative (−)
The marker was not detected, or was found at levels the laboratory considers below a meaningful threshold. Negative does not always mean absent — it means below the cutoff.
Percentage (%)
The proportion of tumour cells that showed staining. A result of 80% means staining was visible in roughly 80 out of every 100 tumour cells examined.
Intensity (0 to 3+)
How strongly the marker stained in the cells that showed it. Graded 0 for none, 1+ for weak, 2+ for moderate, and 3+ for strong. Some reports use words rather than numbers.
H-score (0–300)
A combined score that multiplies percentage by intensity grade to give a single number. Not every report includes one.
Allred score (0–8)
A combined scoring system that adds a proportion score to an intensity score. Used mainly for hormone receptor markers. A higher number means stronger expression.

What do positive and negative actually mean?

Positive means the laboratory found the marker protein when it stained your tumour tissue. Negative means it did not find it, or found it below the threshold the laboratory uses.

Positive is not better than negative, and negative is not worse. The meaning depends on which marker the report is describing. Your oncologist interprets the result in the context of your cancer type and stage, not in isolation.

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Why does the report show a percentage and an intensity grade?

A positive result alone does not say how much of the marker is present. Two tumours can both be positive but very different — one might show staining in a small number of cells, another in most of them.

The percentage tells your oncologist how widely the marker appears across the tumour. The intensity grade tells them how strongly. Both are read together, not separately.

How to read your own IHC report

  • Find the marker name in the left column — common ones include ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67 and PD-L1.
  • Read the result column: positive or negative.
  • Find the percentage figure — the proportion of cells that stained for the marker.
  • Find the intensity grade — usually 0, 1+, 2+ or 3+, or words like weak, moderate or strong.
  • Check whether an H-score or Allred score appears — your oncologist may refer to this combined number.
  • Bring the full printed report to your appointment, not just the summary line.

Questions families often ask

Can I look up what my result means online?

You can find general explanations of what each marker tests for — this page is one of them. What you cannot find online is what your specific result means for your specific cancer, because that depends on all your markers together, your cancer type, your stage, and other test results your oncologist holds. Use online resources to understand the vocabulary. Take the interpretation to your oncologist.

My report uses both numbers and words for intensity — which should I read?

Both describe the same thing. The numbers (0, 1+, 2+, 3+) and the words (none, weak, moderate, strong) are equivalent scales — laboratories use whichever format their reporting system applies. They should correspond: 1+ is weak, 2+ is moderate, 3+ is strong. If something looks inconsistent on your report, ask your oncologist to clarify.

What is the difference between an H-score and an Allred score?

Both combine percentage and intensity into a single number, but they use different calculations and different scales. The H-score runs from 0 to 300. The Allred score runs from 0 to 8. They are used in different clinical contexts and for different markers — they are not directly interchangeable. Which one appears on your report depends on the marker being tested and the laboratory's protocol. Your oncologist will tell you which number applies to your situation.

My report says 2+ positive — should I be worried?

That depends entirely on which marker shows 2+ and what your cancer type is. For some markers, a 2+ result triggers additional testing. For others, it is clearly in the positive range with no further step needed. There is no general answer that applies across all markers and cancers. Bring the report to your next appointment and ask your oncologist what the 2+ result means in your specific situation.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean if a marker is 3+ positive?

3+ is the strongest intensity grade on the standard scale, meaning the staining was clearly visible and strong. Whether that result matters for your treatment depends on which marker is 3+ and your cancer type. A 3+ result on one marker may call for a specific next step; on another it simply confirms a positive result with confidence. Your oncologist will explain what 3+ means in your specific case.

Is a higher percentage always better?

No. For some markers, a higher percentage is associated with a better response to a particular type of treatment. For others, the meaning is different entirely. The percentage is one input into your oncologist's overall picture — not a score where higher is universally preferable. The answer depends on which marker you are looking at and what it is measuring.

My report says negative — does that mean the cancer is not there?

No. Negative on an IHC marker means that specific protein was not detected in the tumour cells, or was below the laboratory threshold. It does not mean there is nothing to treat. For some cancers and markers, a negative result changes the treatment approach rather than ending it. Your oncologist will explain what the negative result means for your specific marker and situation.

Why does my IHC panel test so many different markers?

Different markers tell different things about the tumour. Some indicate which tissue the cancer originated from. Others show whether it may respond to a particular type of treatment. Some help confirm the diagnosis or rule out other possibilities. Your oncologist chooses the markers most relevant to your cancer — the panel is not a fixed set, it is built for your situation.

Can I understand my IHC report without a doctor?

You can understand what each term means — which is what this page is for. Reading the vocabulary is manageable. Interpreting what the results mean for your treatment is a different task — it requires knowing which markers matter for your cancer type and how they interact with each other. That interpretation belongs with your oncologist.

What is Ki-67 and what does the percentage mean?

Ki-67 is a marker of how fast tumour cells are dividing. The percentage on your report shows the proportion of cells that were actively dividing when the sample was taken. A higher percentage generally means the tumour is growing more quickly. How your oncologist uses that number depends on your cancer type — in some cancers it influences treatment planning, in others it is one factor among several.

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