Following the opening of Lurie Children’s, a Research Histology Core has been established at Manne Research Institute to provide scientists histology services in house within a short period of time and at minimal costs.
Equipment is available to process fixed tissue, embed in paraffin, section them and make routine hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as to perform immunohistochemistry and some special staining. Staff members are available for technical consultation regarding optimal harvesting and fixation of tissues, stains, histopathological procedures as well as for professional pathologic consultation and even imaging.
Specimen Preparation
For the best preservation of tissue morphology, the thickness of the tissue placed in fixative should be between 0.2 and 0.7 cm. Sections that are thicker require time for the fixative to permeate to the center, resulting in potential degradation.
The volume of fixative should be at least 10 times that of the specimen.
Fixation should be carried out as soon as possible after removal of the tissues, and for sufficient time to allow the permeation of the fixative into the tissue. Staff can provide the 10% buffered formalin by request.
Tissues can remain in formalin for prolonged periods of time without compromising histology. However, after 24 hours, the longer the tissue is in formalin, the more antigenicity is lost.