While FFPE is widely used, it does have some limitations:
Potential for antigen masking: The cross-linking of proteins during fixation can mask antigens, making it challenging to perform certain IHC assays without antigen retrieval techniques. DNA/RNA degradation: Although FFPE preserves tissue morphology well, the formalin fixation process can cause some degradation of DNA and RNA, which may affect molecular analyses. Processing artifacts: Improper processing can lead to artifacts, such as tissue shrinkage or poor infiltration, which can compromise the quality of the tissue sections.
