Successful application of indirect in-situ polymerase chain reaction to tissues fixed in Bouin's solution

Aims: To evaluate the value of polymerase chain reaction-in situ hybridizat ion (PCR-TSR)for the detection of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in paraffin sections of cervical biopsies fixed either in 10% formalin or in Bouin's so lution. Methods and results: We analysed 40 biopsies from Italian women infected wi th the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1). In-situ hybridization t echniques were performed with commercial biotinylated probes. The PCR-ISH w as carried out by the 'hot start modification'. Cervical intraepithelial ne oplasia (CIN) was found in 23 of 40 patients (57.5%): eight cases showed co ndylomatous features. Human papillomavirus was detected in 42.5% by ISH and in 65% by PCR-TSH. Sixty-nine per cent of positive biopsies contained HPV 16, 18, 31 and 33. HPV 6 and 11 were found only in condylomata acuminata sa mples. Conclusions: The results point to a high incidence of HPV infection as well as of CIN in HIV-positive patients, Human papillomavirus type 16 appears t o be most frequently associated with GIN. Polymerase chain reaction-ISM is more sensitive than ISH in the detection and typing of HPV DNA both in clin ical and in 'latent' infections. The two techniques yielded the same result s with either formalin- or Bouin's-fixed material.