Colorimetric in-situ hybridization in clinical virology: development of automated technology

Automation of in situ hybridization is an important first step toward practical implementation of the widely recognized diagnostic potential of nucleic acid hybridization. Our laboratory has concentrated its efforts towards automating colorimetric in situ hybridization on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. We have capitalized upon the technology developed for the automation of immunohistochemistry (Brigati et al. 1988) and are collaborating with Fisher Scientific in modifying the Fisher Code-On Stainer to achieve successful automated in situ hybridization. Preliminary results are encouraging. We feel that the capillary gap technology has the potential to be modified to automate other hybridization assay formats such as dot and sandwich blot hybridizations. While specifically developed for colorimetric hybridization, the instrumentation is self-contained and could be safely adapted to the use of radio-labeled probes if necessary.