[Criteria for molecular biological diagnosis in pathology]

Since its initial description in 1985 (Saiki et al., 1985), the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become one of the leading techniques. This approach is not only able to clarify many questions in basic research, but also diagnostical issues. The application of PCR in the field of tissue diagnosis is still at its infant stage, although it has already proved to be of great value. However, the slow introduction of PCR in the field of Pathology is the cause of much misunderstandings for many clinician. Of the possible reasons for this, one could be the fact that the tissue diagnosis is carried out by the investigation of formalin-fixed material. One solution to this situation would be to propose a frame-work of conditions for the introduction of PCR as a diagnostically valuable method of investigation.