Diagnosis of hairy-cell leukaemia by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity may be demonstrated in paraffin-embedded liver and spleen specimens as well as in decalcified bone marrow biopsies after fixation in a mixed glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde-calcium acetate solution. This technique may routinely be applied to haematologically relevant material and aids in the differential diagnosis of hairy-cell leukaemia.