Michel's medium: a potential alternative to cryoprotection for tissue transport in the investigation of genetic skin disease

Michel's medium is now well established as a transport medium to maintain t issue-fixed immunoreactants prior to direct immunofluorescence and immunoel ectron microscopy. This is a practical alternative to cryofixation prior to transportation when sending skin biopsies for the investigation of cutaneo us immunobullous disease. In this study we have demonstrated preservation o f the cutaneous basement membrane zone proteins in skin biopsies stored in Michel's medium for periods of up to 28 days - proving that Michel's medium can be used as a transport medium when sending skin biopsies for immunohis tochemical studies to determine the structural and molecular deficiencies i n genodermatoses such as inherited forms of epidermolysis bullosa.