title: Cervical cytology biobanking: quality of DNA from archival cervical Pap-stained smears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical cytology biobanking is a feasible concept in cervical pathology and could be an indispensable tool for fundamental and applied molecular biological research. PCR is a powerful molecular technique that can be performed on a variety of cervical sample types including Pap-stained cervical smears. However, since the quality of DNA from such specimens is inferior to that from fresh tissue, the correct processing methods are required. This study evaluates three commercial isolation methods and one digestion procedure for their ability to obtain DNA suitable for PCR from fixed and stained Pap smears.
  
  
  METHODS
  The High Pure PCR Template Preparation kit, the NucliSENS easyMAG system, the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and crude proteinase K digestion were used to obtain DNA for subsequent PCR applications. Amplification of beta-globin was performed to verify the presence and integrity of target DNA. The influence of PCR inhibitors and extent of DNA fragmentation were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All commercial DNA isolation techniques provided DNA suitable for PCR amplification, and DNA isolated from 10-year-old archival smears yielded amplicons up to 400 base pairs. Conversely, crude proteinase K digestion limited the amplicon size to 300 bp and did not consistently yield amplifiable digests, as these were contaminated with PCR-inhibiting factors and debris.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates that commercial DNA isolation techniques are suitable for PCR amplification of DNA isolated from archival smears, yielding amplicons up to 400 base pairs. Proteinase K digestion is not suitable to obtain amplifiable DNA from fixed and stained Pap-stained smears.
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Research (AMBIOR), Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. gaelle.boulet@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: G A V
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: C A J
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berghmans
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Moeneclaey
authors.forename: I S M
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Duys
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arbyn
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Depuydt
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vereecken
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahebali
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bogers
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D004247:DNA