Evaluation of a tissue transport medium for immunological characterization of benign and malignant lymphoid tissues.

A tissue transport medium was evaluated for its usefulness in immunologic characterization of lymphocytes in tissue sections. A variety of lymphoid tissues were studied, including normal tissue, hyperplastic tissue and malignant lymphoma. Approximately equal parts of biopsy samples were taken and one part was immediately snap-frozen while the other was held in transport medium for up to one week before processing for frozen section. Sections were stained with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antisera and with a variety of murine monoclonal antibodies to T-cell antigens or Ia antigen followed by staining with fluorescein-conjugated goat-antimouse gamma globulin. In all cases studied, there was complete agreement in the staining patterns of tissues which were either immediately snap-frozen or held in transport medium.