SELF-SEAL(TM) REAGENT - EVAPORATION CONTROL FOR MOLECULAR HISTOLOGY PROCEDURES WITHOUT CHAMBERS, CLIPS OR FINGERNAIL POLISH

Sensitive nucleic acid based detection methods such as in situ PCR, in situ RT-PCR and PRINS have great potential in the areas of developmen tal biology, pathogenesis and diagnostics. However, control of evapora tion from in situ reactions is critical to ensure reliable data. Self- Seal(TM) Reagent, a component added directly to the in situ reaction m ixture, effectively controls evaporation during in situ procedures by creating an evaporation-limiting barrier around the periphery of a sta ndard cover glass as the reaction proceeds. At the end of the procedur e, the cover glass is easily removed by soaking in an aqueous solution . A model is presented for how Self-Seal Reagent controls evaporation while maintaining reagent concentrations. Self-seal Reagent is shown t o be effective in the detection of HIV sequences in cells by in situ P CR.