Detection of human papilloma viruses in paraffin wax sections with biotinylated synthetic oligonucleotide probes and immunogold staining

Human papilloma virus was detected by in situ hybridisation in routinely processed paraffin wax sections using a synthetically produced oligonucleotide probe, end-labelled with biotin, and amplified with anti-biotin-immunogold silver staining (anti-biotin-IGSS). This system proved more sensitive than amplification with streptavidin-biotinylated alkaline phosphatase for detecting human papilloma virus type 16 in cervical tissues. The method was successfully combined with antigen staining for papilloma virus common antigens in skin and genital warts. This simple and quick method, using non-radioactively labelled synthetic probes, may be useful for the detection of other viruses in stored material and may be suitable for other double staining procedures.