THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR DETECTING ADENOVIRUS DNA IN FORMALIN-FIXED, PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED TISSUE OBTAINED POSTMORTEM

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect adenovirus DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue obtained post mortem. Adenovirus DNA was successfully amplified from specimens of lung and liver from two patients with disseminated adenovirus infection confirmed by virus isolation, electron microscopy and/or immunohistochemistry. Negative results were obtained for specimens of lung from two patients with cytomegalovirus pneumonia. The specificity of the adenovirus PCR was confirmed by means of a digoxigenin-labelled probe generated in a separate PCR. Detection of viral nucleic acid by PCR in tissues obtained post mortem has considerable diagnostic potential. © 1993 The British Society for the Study of Infection.