Prior to obtaining your tissue samples please consult with the HIC staff, brianj18@uw.edu (206-685-6517), to establish protocols for trimming, fixation, and embedding. A brief consult with our staff will allow us to provide you with the best possible service.
Services include:
- Advice on proper tissue fixation techniques (Link to proper tissue fixation techniques)
- Automated Cassette and Slide labeling (Link to SOP)
- Tissue processing and paraffin embedding
- Sectioning of paraffin embedded tissue
- Cryopreservation and sectioning of frozen tissue
- Sectioning for RNA or DNA analysis or other molecular studies.
- H & E staining as well as a broad range of “special stains”
- Immunohistochemistry (Link to IHC page)
We recommend fixation of tissue samples for 24 - 48hours (depending on size) in formalin. After this initial fixation, transfer the specimens to 70% ETOH. We prefer to receive samples in 70% ETOH and this is the recommended reagent to hold specimens in while awaiting processing and embedding. Samples received in formalin will incur a formalin disposal charge.
The HIC staff is available to trim tissue samples, however for maximum fixation efficiency we recommend this be done by the investigator.
Please complete a work order and email to brianj18@uw.edu, prior to submitting your samples. (link to Forms page)
Typical workflow for samples brought into the HIC:
