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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

DNA Extraction from Paraffin Embedded Material for Genetic and Epigenetic Analyses
Published on: March 26, 2011
An alternative protocol for DNA extraction from formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue
R Coura1, J C Prolla, L Meurer
1Genetics and Molecular Biology Post-graduation Program, Federal University from Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, CEP 90035-003. recoura@hotmail.com
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.
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