Methods and kits for performing in situ hybridization

1. A method of determining whether a target nucleic acid is present in a biological sample on a solid surface, comprising the steps of:

a) contacting the sample on the solid surface with a dry fibrous matrix and laying the dry fibrous matrix on the surface, wherein labeled nucleic acid probes for detecting the target nucleic acid are embedded in or sorbed to the matrix, and wherein the labeled nucleic acid probes comprise nucleotide sequences that are substantially complementary to one or more different nucleotide sequences in the target nucleic acid;

b) hydrating the matrix on the surface in an aqueous hydration solution after step a) thereby releasing the probes from the matrix;

c) incubating the sample on the surface with the probes under stringent conditions sufficient to permit specific hybridization of the probes to the target nucleic acid if the target nucleic acid is present in the sample;

d) washing the surface to remove the probes which are unhybridized and non-specifically hybridized; and

e) determining whether the target nucleic acid is present in the sample by determining whether the labeled nucleic acid probes have hybridized to the target nucleic acid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibrous matrix comprises a glass fiber, a wool fiber, a synthetic fiber or a plant fiber.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibrous matrix comprises a cellulose-based material.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the cellulose-based material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, nitrocellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, rayon, and viscose.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more additional reagents selected from the group consisting of salmon sperm DNA, a blocking reagent and an antimicrobial agent, or a combination thereof are embedded in or sorbed to the matrix.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous hydration solution is an aqueous hybridization buffer comprising about 30% formamide, about 10% to about 20% dextran sulfate and 2×SSC solution.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the labeled nucleic acid probes are DNA oligonucleotide probes.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the DNA oligonucleotide probes have a length of about 20 to about 50 nucleotides.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the DNA oligonucleotide probes have a length of about 30 nucleotides.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the labeled nucleic acid probes are synthetically produced and comprise at least one fluorescent label.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is attached to or affixed to the solid surface.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample comprises cells selected from the group consisting of epithelial cells, sperm cells, oocytes, polar bodies, blastomeres and blastocysts, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample comprises epithelial cells, wherein the epithelial cells are selected from the group consisting of urothelial cells and peripheral blood cells, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein step c) of the method is performed at a temperature in the range of about 19 degrees Celsius to about 25 degrees Celsius.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the aqueous hydration solution is a hybridization buffer comprising about 1.0-5.0 mM NaOH and having a pH in the range of about 10 to about 13.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is immobilized on the solid surface, wherein the solid surface comprises a glass slide.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydration solution comprises formamide, ethylene carbonate or dimethylsulfoxide, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the hydration solution comprises formamide.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the formamide in the hydration solution has a concentration of about 20% to about 90% by volume.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the formamide in the hydration solution has a concentration of about 30% by volume.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the hydration solution further comprises dextran sulfate and saline sodium citrate.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydration solution comprises a base and has a pH in the range of about 10 to about 13.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the base comprises an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the base is NaOH.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the NaOH in the hydration solution has a concentration of about 0.03 M to about 0.17 M.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the NaOH in the hydration solution has a concentration of about 0.07 M.