An improved method of in situ hybridization which relies on an improved formulation of the in situ hybridization buffer is described. In at least some formulations the buffer are non-toxic. The combination of Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) comprising ISH probes and the improved ISH buffer are useful for detection of small non-coding RNA as well as in the manufacturing of ISH kits directed to the detection of such small non-coding RNA. Further disclosed is a method of semi-quantitative ISH and demonstration of the semi-quantitative ISHs diagnostic potential.