METHOD FOR EVALUATING THE ADEQUACY OF CLINICAL SPECIMENS FOR HYBRIDIZATION ASSAYS AND KIT FOR PERFORMING THE EVALUATION

摘要

The adequacy of clinical specimens for nucleic acid hybridization tests is determined by a method comprising the steps of (a) taking a representative sample from the specimen; (b) applying the sample, without intermediate treatment, to a gel having dispersed therein a nucleic acid staining agent such that the staining agent binds to the nucleic acids in the sample to produce a visually detectable product; and (c) visually determining the amount of staining agent bound to the sample and comparing this to the result obtained for a known concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid and staining agent in order to determine the approximate number of cells in the sample. Reagents and apparatus for performing the method may be packaged in kit form.