Killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tissue by microwaves with simultaneous tissue fixation.

Guinea-pig liver heavily infected with M. tuberculosis has been sterilised by exposure to microwaves in a standard commercially available domestic oven. Subsequent histology showed good tissue preservation and organisms of normal morphology were identified by Ziehl Neelsen staining. The findings allow the safe use of frozen sections for diagnosis in tissue containing M. tuberculosis.