An alternative protocol for DNA extraction from formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue.

BACKGROUND DNA extraction from paraffin wax embedded tissue requires special protocols, and most described methods report an amplification success rate of 60-80%. AIMS To propose a simple and inexpensive protocol consisting of xylene/ethanol dewaxing, followed by a kit based extraction. METHOD Xylene/ethanol dewaxing was followed by a long rehydration step and a kit based DNA extraction step. RESULTS This method produced a 100% amplification success rate for fragments of 121 to 227 bp for tamponated formalin fixed paraffin wax embedded tissue. CONCLUSION This cost effective and non-laborious protocol can successfully extract DNA from tamponated formalin fixed paraffin wax embedded tissue and should facilitate the molecular analysis of a large number of archival specimens in retrospective studies.