Type-specific human papillomavirus detection in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections using nonradioactive deoxyribonucleic acid probes.

DNA probes directly conjugated to horseradish peroxidase have been used successfully to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6/11, 16, and 18 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. By using silver enhancement of a heavy metal-modified diaminobenzidine precipitate, the sensitivity of human papillomavirus detection was significantly increased without compromising specificity. In studies comparing the specificity of the horseradish peroxidase-labeled probe/silver enhancement system to that of a biotinylated-DNA probe/streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase system, the former was found to be superior.