title: The effect of formalin fixation on the polymerase chain reaction characterization of Entamoeba histolytica.
abstract: Formalin fixation is the most common storage, transportation and preservation method for stool samples. However, fixation dramatically reduces our ability to extract from stool samples DNA that is a suitable template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic tests. In this study we evaluated the effects of formalin concentration and of the time stored in fixative on the success of PCR amplification. We found that the deleterious effects of formalin are both time and concentration dependent and may result from fragmentation of fixed DNA during its purification.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zurabian
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramiro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Melendro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ximénez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000187:drug effects; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde