Open AccessA simple preservative for flow cytometric DNA analysis
Author(s) -
Alanen Kalle A.,
Klemi Pekka J.,
Taimela Simo,
Joensuu Heikki
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990100115
Subject(s) - flow cytometry , preservative , dna , coefficient of variation , microbiology and biotechnology , saline , citric acid , chromatography , chemistry , andrology , biology , medicine , biochemistry , food science , endocrinology
A solution containing citric acid buffered saline (CABS) and 99% ethanol (E) 1:1 was used for preserving cells for flow cytometric DNA analysis. DNA histograms obtained from fine needle biopsy aspirates and preserved in CABS+E had a similar mean coefficient of variation (CV) as was obtained from aspirates taken in CABS (3.3 vs. 3.4%) and a clearly smaller mean CV than was obtained from aspirates preserved in 50% ethanol (mean 4.8%, P < .0001). Aspirates taken in CABS more often contained a small (< 3,000) number of cells as compared with aspirates preserved either in CABS+E or ethanol ( P < .0001). Since preservation of cells in CABS+E allows long‐term storage of samples and results in a decreased number of insufficient samples as compared with buffered saline and in an enhanced resolution as compared with 50% ethanol, CABS+E is recommended for preservation of cytological samples to be analyzed for DNA content with flow cytometry.