Wet autoclaving is a simple, reliable and time-effective method for antigen retrieval in routinely processed archival material. Both routine diagnostic (e.g., oestrogen and progesterone receptors, cytoskeletal proteins) and research antibodies (e.g. various p53 antibodies, mdm-2, bcl-2, MIB-1) are reported to demonstrate its application. We autoclaving may allow successful application of antibodies in paraffin-embedded tissues designed for use on frozen sections. The technique has the potential to reliably handle up to 200 sections at a time, without evidence of any significant damage to the sections or nuclear morphology.