AUTOMATED IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION - DIAGNOSTIC AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Although in situ hybridization has been in use for almost 30 years, it s technically demanding nature, the requirements for optimal tissue fi xation and preservation, and the turnaround time for the experiments h ave prevented this technique from becoming widely used in the surgical pathology setting. The use of nonisotopic reporter molecules, the pos sibility of performing hybridization on archival material, and very re cently, automation of the procedure have brought in situ hybridization to the forefront of diagnostic and experimental pathology. We describ e our experience with nonradioactive, automated in situ hybridization, compare the technique with traditional manual procedures, and briefly outline its potential applications in diagnostic pathology and in the research setting.