Modern Medical Laboratory Journal

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is widely utilized in genomic and cell biological research as well as for diagnostic applications in preventive and reproductive medicine, and oncology. It is the gold standard technique for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities. FISH is a very straightforward technique that essentially consists in hybridizing a DNA probe to its complementary sequence on chromosomal preparations previously fixed on slides. Probes are labeled either directly, by incorporation of fluorescent nucleotides, or indirectly, by incorporation of reporter molecules that are subsequently detected by fluorescent antibodies or other affinity molecules. Probes and targets are finally visualized in situ by microscopy analysis. 
Despite the high specificity of FISH and the possibility of direct quantitative imaging, some of its key limitations prevent its regular use in diagnostics. 
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