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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

DNA Extraction from Paraffin Embedded Material for Genetic and Epigenetic Analyses
Published on: March 26, 2011
High-quality genomic DNA extraction from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples deparaffinized using mineral
Jianghai Lin1, Stephen H Kennedy, Therese Svarovsky
1Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Abstract:
Extracting DNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue remains a challenge, despite numerous attempts to develop a more effective method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) success rates with DNA extracted using current methods remain low. We extracted DNA from 140 long-term archived FFPE samples using a simple but effective deparaffinization method, removing the wax with mineral oil, and a commercially available DNA extraction kit. DNA quality was subsequently tested in a genotyping experiment with 14 microsatellite markers. High-quality DNA was obtained with a mean PCR success rate of 97% (range: 88-100%) across markers. The results suggested that DNA extracted using this novel method is likely to be suitable for genetic studies involving DNA fragments <200 bp.
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