Abstract
Rapid analyses and reliable data are desired in clinical genetic tests of various types of sample, including blood, frozen tissues, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) materials. In this article, we described the changes in genetic tests, focusing on DNA extraction methods. We compared differences in DNA amount extracted from peripheral blood among a phenol-chloroform method, a NaI method, and automated DNA extraction methods. Regarding FFPE materials, we compared various factors, including paraffin embedding processes, deparaffinization processes, and durations of formalin fixation with DNA amount. We also compared differences in DNA amount and results of DNA tests between conventional microdissection and laser microdissection of FFPE materials stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). In addition, we described fully automatic genetic analyzers, which will be expected to replace conventional manual procedures in the near future. Workshops conducted by the Japanese Association of Medical Technologists have been helping laboratory technologists acquire skills in the genetic testing methods described above.
