In-situ immuno-PCR to detect antigens.

In-situ immunoassays do not allow the detection of the minute numbers of target molecules accessible with in-situ PCR. We developed a highly sensitive method, termed in-situ immuno-PCR, in which the DNA marker was linked to target molecules through an antibody-biotin-avidin bridge and amplified by in-situ PCR. Amplified DNA sequences were detected in situ by hybridisation. This technique may be the only one available to detect minute quantities of biological macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in intact cells or tissue sections.