Author(s) Boraiy L, Fontao L, et al.

Journal Dermatopathology (Basel, Switzerland). Date of publication 2014 Oct 24;volume 1(2):70-4.

Abstract 1. Dermatopathology (Basel). 2014 Oct 24;1(2):70-4. doi: 10.1159/000368347. eCollection 2014 Aug-Dec. Michel's Transport Medium as an Alternative to Liquid Nitrogen for PCR Analysis of Skin Biopsy Specimens. Boraiy L(1), Fontao L(1). Author information: (1)Departments of Dermatology and Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding are standard procedures for histopathological diagnosis and allow long-term archiving of tissue specimens. The cross-linking properties of formalin cause fragmentation of nucleic acids and reduce the sensitivity of PCR analysis. Michel's medium is a well-established transport medium used by dermatologists for biopsy transport to maintain tissue-fixed immunoreactants prior to direct immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Here we report that Michel's medium also allows short-term preservation of DNA for PCR analysis and permits amplification of amplicons larger than 1 kb. Therefore, Michel's medium appears to be a reserve medium for performing PCR when no other samples are available. DOI: 10.1159/000368347 PMCID: PMC4772930 PMID: 27047924

Source ID (e.g. PMID): 27047924