Flow cytometrical comparison of different semi-automatic ways of measuring S-phase fractions using fresh and...

Histopathologically normal endometrial tissue from 250 patients was prepared for DNA measurements according to the technique of Schütte, combined with the techniques of Vindelöv and Thorntwaite for formalin-fixed material; the latter methods were used alone for fresh material. To estimate the influence of different analysis methods we used two semi-automatic methods (Cellfit, MacCycle) and a manual method. Differencies between these methods were found regarding CV (the width of the peak), and S-phase fractions [S%, (S + G2)%]. We therefore conclude that histopathologically normal tissue must first be evaluated by these methods to establish the range of normal values for a certain organ/tissue, before a certain set of values are applied in the clinical situation.