Additional specimens were fixed in buffered formalin (10%, pH 7.4) at room temperature for 48 to 72 hours before routine paraffin embedding.

They were fixed flat in formalin after wrapping them in tissue paper to avoid curling and were processed for paraffin embedding.

Mucosal tissue specimens were extracted in cold phosphate buffered isotonic saline (pH 7.4) for 48 hours before ethanol fixation and paraffin embedding.

Additionally/alternatively, the sensitivity of the assay on archival tissues may be less than that on the SiHa cell-line model despite attempting equivalent procedures through formalin-fixation and routine paraffin embedding.