Abstract

A simple and efficient method of DNA extraction from paraffin wax embedded tissues using a spin cartridge system is described. Such DNAs were shown to be suitable for amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, which targeted two human papillomavirus genes and one globin fragment giving rise to products of 450, 150, and 110 base pairs, respectively. Different human tissues, stored for up to 20 years, were successfully amplified, demonstrating the usefulness of this very simple procedure for retrospective studies.