RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Quantification of HIV DNA in the brain by PCR: differences between fresh frozen and formalin fixed tissue. JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 425 OP 427 DO 10.1136/jcp.49.5.425 VO 49 IS 5 A1 F Davison A1 S F An A1 F Scaravilli YR 1996 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/49/5/425.abstract AB HIV-1 DNA extracted from frozen and formalin fixed brain tissue can be detected using PCR. This work has been extended by amplifying, using semiquantitative PCR, HIV DNA extracted from frontal lobe tissue of 16 patients with AIDS (eight positive and eight negative for p24 antigen). DNA was amplified using HIV-1 pol gene digoxigenin labelled primers and detected by chemiluminescence and densitometry. Cloned standards were amplified in parallel for quantification. HIV DNA levels detected in frozen tissue showed a correlation with p24 positivity and the severity of the histological diagnosis. This correlation was less clear in the formalin fixed material.