what can we do?

Processing

Standard processing
Urgent processing
Customised protocols

Embedding

Standard embedding
Mega casette embedding
Multiwell cassette embedding
Customised embedding

sectioning

Frozen tissue sectioning
Paraffin block sectioning
DNaise/RNaise free sectioning
Fresh bone sectioning

labelling

Slide labelling
Cassette  labelling

immunostaining

IHC, IF, ISH and Multiplex
Customised to each project

histochemical

Alcian Blue + PAS
Alcian Blue
Congo Red
 Crystal Violet
Diff Quik
H&E
Masson Trichrome
Oil Red O
Picrosirius Red
Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)
Safranin O
Toluidine Blue
Van Gieson

what is multiplex staining?

• Stain and image three or more tissue biomarkers at once
• Use multiple unlabelled primary antibodies raised in the same species, with no cross talk
• Visualise context that is lost in flow cytometry
• Confirm single cell co-expression for many biomarkers in one tissue section
• Get more information while conserving precious tissue

Opal Multiplex Staining: Human Kidney
T/N CK7 (Red on normal)
Cav1 (Purple/pink) Ob (Green)

tissue processor vip6

Designed for the automated dehydration and paraffin infiltration of human, plant and animal tissues. Samples are submerged in a series of increasing concentrations of ethanol, then several changes of xylene and finally infiltrated with paraffin prior to embedding. Protocols can be customised to the sample's needs with variable times, temperatures, pressue and vacuum cycles.

The facility provides customised services to cater to your needs.

For more information regarding fees, please refer to PPMS on the TRI intranet or contact the histology facility staff.

embedding station

Following tissue processing, this station is used to position and embed tissues in molten paraffin wax to form paraffin blocks ready for microtome sectioning.

 microtome

We have manual and semi-motorised rotary microtomes. The microtome is designed to slice paraffin embedded tissues into thin sections as thin as 1μm. These sections are then picked up microscope slides and used in histochemical, immunohistochemical and immunoflourescent staining applications.

cryostat

We have two different types of Cryostat:
Leica CM 1950
ThermoFisher HM525NX

The cryostat is used for rapid freezing and sectioning of tissue samples. Fresh tissue samples are frozen with OCT embedding medium to provide rigidity and support for sectioning. Fresh bone samples can be sectioned using the tungsten blade on the Leica CM1950.
 

The cryostst gives faster results compared to standard paraffin embedded treatments.

tissue-tek automated stainer and coverslipper

For all of your routine and special histochemical stains, we have a  programmable automated stainer to produce consistently high quality stained slides. It is linked to an automated coverslipper which will then transform your slides into clean coverslipped slides ready for microscopy. The coverslipper can be used independently of the stainer, so why not bring your slides prepared at the bench for superior coverslipping.

ventana discovery ultra 

The Discovery Ultra enables high quality, highly reproducible chromogenic and tyramide flourescent immunostaining. It performs all operations required to automatically process slides for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH) staining.

Capabilities include:

Baking, deparaffinisation, antigen retrival and washing can be customised. Single or multiplexed chromogenic and TSA flourescent IHC, ISH and IF staining. It has 30 independent slide reaction chambers with individual slide heaters.  

slides and cassettes printers 

The slide and cassette printers produce highly legible labels which help to minimise mistakes due to human error in subsequent states of processing and analysis.