Telomerase activity in effusions: a comparison between telomere repeat amplification protocol in situ and conventional telomere repeat amplification protocol assay.
CONTEXT: We previously found telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in situ helpful in the diagnosis of malignancy in effusions, whereas varying sensitivities and specificities for malignancy were reported by investigators using extract-based TRAP. OBJECTIVE: To compare the 2 methods and to elucidate the discrepancies between them. DESIGN: Twenty-three effusions were analyzed. Telomerase ac