IMPROVED CURRENT METHODS FOR AMPLIFICATION OF DNA FROM ROUTINELY PROCESSED LIVER-TISSUE BY PCR

With both a classic DNA preparation protocol (including removal of par affin wax and protein digestion) and a DNA extraction protocol with Ch elex 100, the hepatitis B virus genome was searched for using the poly merase chain reaction (PCR) in 30 samples of paraffin wax embedded liv er tissue from patients with chronic hepatitis. The classic protocol w as more sensitive than the rapid Chelex 100 procedure (10 v six positi ve samples). A third protocol, including removal of paraffin wax, prot ein digestion, and Chelex 100 treatment of the digestion solution befo re PCR, was more sensitive than the others (16 positive samples). It i s concluded that it could therefore be helpful for PCR analysis of par affin wax embedded liver tissue.