METHOD FOR LYSING A FIXED BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

The present invention provides a method for lysing a fixed biological sample wherein the obtained lysate is suitable for being directly used in a nucleic acid analysis method, comprising: a) contacting the fixed biological sample with an aqueous lysis composition thereby providing a lysis mixture; b) heating the lysis mixture at ‰¥ 85°C to provide a lysate; wherein inhibitors of the subsequent nucleic acid analysis method are depleted by i) contacting the fixed biological sample in step a) with at least one compound which prevents or reduces the inhibition of the subsequent nucleic acid analysis method and/or ii) binding inhibitors to a solid support having an anionic surface. The method is rapid, efficient, does not require the use of chaotropic salts and does not require a prior purification of the nucleic acids prior to performing the analytical method. A portion of the obtained lysate can be used directly e.g. in an amplification reaction.