What is true about slide preparation for FISH?

Slide preparation for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) requires that slides be kept at room temperature conditions. This is important because maintaining the integrity of the slide and the hybridization process depends on ensuring that the conditions are stable and suitable for the probes used. At room temperature, the slides can adequately accommodate the cellular samples without causing excessive condensation or artifacts that might be introduced by cold temperatures.

Keeping slides at cold temperatures can lead to issues such as ice crystal formation, which can damage the cellular structures or the FISH probes. Additionally, while it might be necessary to avoid strong light exposure to protect fluorescent signals, the primary factor for effective slide preparation involves maintaining ideal, stable room conditions that allow for optimal binding and visualization of the probes during subsequent analysis. Hence, it is essential to prioritize room temperature during slide preparation in FISH methodologies.