The BRCF offers expert histology technical procedures and pathological evaluation of research tissue samples. The on staff certified histotechnologist routinely performs tissue processing, sectioning, special and immunohistochemical staining. Additionally the histotechnologist executes more advanced work such as tissue microarray construction and cell block preparation. Pathology consultation and interpretation is available upon request. 

Services 

The following histology services can be requested: 

1. 1. Processing tissue
   2. Paraffin or OCT embedding
   3. Cutting slides from paraffin or OCT blocks
   4. H&E staining
   5. Routine staining and special staining of tissue sections
   6. Immunohistochemical staining (with or without established protocols)
   7. Core punches
   8. Curls from blocks
   9. Cell block preparation
   10. TMA design and construction
   11. Slide imaging

Histology services can be requested through iLab. Instructions are found on the requests page.

Turn Around Time

The expectation is general histology work will be completed within 3-5 working days. For intricate projects requiring advanced tasks (i.e. case identification, project validation, etc.), the work will take longer to perform. It is the responsibility of the researcher to communicate deadlines. It is also important to understand the histotechnologist works on multiple projects and timelines must be realistic.  

Imaging and Analysis

The repository recently acquired a Ariol system slide imaging platform with a Leica DM6000 B microscope and HALO software for brightfield and fluorescence scanning and analysis. Please contact the BRCF via email at BRCF@kumc.edu for more information.

Useful Tips for Submitting Tissue

A histology request must be completed in iLab for specimens to be received by the histotechnologist. If submitting a specimen please consider the following:

1. Only label cassettes legibly in PENCIL with unique identifiers.Writing from permanent markers will dissolve in solution. 
2. Submerge cassettes in 10% NBF or 70% EtOH in a screw top container.
3. Provide a printed copy of the iLab request with your submission. 

Manuscripts

Any work performed by the histotechnologist that presented results for the publication of any manuscript shall be mentioned in the acknowledgments. Policies regarding manuscript writing are described on the manuscript preparation page.

Location: G013 Hixon