Immunofluorescence staining of adenovirus in fixed tissues pretreated with trypsin.

We describe an immunofluorescence staining procedure for adenovirus in Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections pretreated with a 0.25% trypsin solution. In trypsinized tissue sections stained with fluorescein-labeled antibody to adenovirus, viral antigen was brightly fluorescent and easily detected each time specimens were processed, and the nonspecific background fluorescence was always minimal. Viral antigen was nonfluorescent or only weakly fluorescent in tissue sections not pretreated with trypsin. Because pathology laboratories usually receive Formalin-fixed tissues for examination, this rapid and practical procedure can be routinely used to extend the diagnostic capability of conventional histopathology.