The Research Histology Laboratory is an integral and essential component of the Department of Pathology. It functions as the histology laboratory of the BioRepository & Precision Pathology Center (BRPC), while additionally providing specialized support to clinical services and multiple investigators at Duke. The Research Histology Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility that provides both routine and specialized histological services. The staff provides assistance with respect to the proper collection and fixation of the tissue, paraffin and OCT embedding, microtomy and cryotomy techniques, and the evaluation of the stains. The histology teams works closely with BRPC’s Immunohistochemistry, Tissue Microarray, Nucleic Acid Extraction, Digital Spatial Profiling, and Digital Imaging specialists, and any of these services can be requested along with histology for convenience.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm
Designated drop off and pick up times: 9:30-11:00am; 3:00-4:30pm
Location for General Histology Services: Duke South Green Zone, Room 254
Contact Information
Phone: 919-684-6209
Email
Director: Shannon J. McCall, MD
Scientific Director: Zuowei Su PhD, 919-684-1727
Staff:
Emily Knutson, HT (ASCP), Team Lead
Laura Sparks, HT (ASCP)
SERVICES OFFERED
- Routine paraffin processing, embedding, and sectioning
- Hematoxylin and eosin (H+E)
- Frozen Sectioning
- Special staining
STAINS
Please call if you need a stain not listed here. Contact Dr. Zuowei Su at 919-684-1727 to discuss your immunostaining needs, and see the list of our currently available stains. If the antibody you need is not on our list, then please contact Dr. Su for advice and assistance. A list of some commonly requested stains are:
- PHF-TAU
- Beta Amyloid Protein (BAPP)
- Alpha-Synuclein
- BAF47, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD15, CD31, CD34, CK(AE1/AE3), CK14
- Cleaved Caspase 3
- Estrogen Receptor Alpha, F4/80, FoxP3, GRP78, HAM56, HMB45, Ki67, GFAP, Mart-1, Neurofilament (NFP), p53, S100, Synaptophysin
SPECIAL STAINS
- Congo Red
- Peiodic Acid Schiff- Diastase Digestion (PAS-D)
- Luxol Fast Blue
- Mikat
- Masson Trichrome
- Martius Scarlett Blue (MSB)
- Oil Red O (frozen sections only)
- Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)
- Periodic Acid Schiff – Diastase Digestion (PAS-D)
- Toluidine Blue
INSTRUMENTATION
- Sakura Tissue Tek VIP 5 tissue processors
- Sakura Tissue Tek 5 tissue embedding console
- Leica RM2235 manual microtome
- Thermo Scientific Microm HM355S automated microtomes
- Thermo Scientific CryoStar NX70 cryostat
- Leica Autostainer XL H&E Stainer
FAQs
Specimen Drop-Off & Pickup Location: Room 254M Duke Hospital South (Green Zone)
Designated Hours: 9:30-11:00AM & 3:00-4:30PM
Telephone: (919) 684-6209 Email: path-RHL@duke.edu
BioRepository & Precision Pathology Center (BRPC) Immunohistology Services in Support of Human and Animal Sample Research
Price List July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
| RH# | Tissue Handling | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fix-specimen (10% Neutral Buffered Formalin) | $3.00 |
| 2 | Handling wet tissue (placement into cassette) or fine trim specimen | $8.00 |
| 3 | Relabel cassette or replace cover slip on slide | $4.80 |
| RH# | Decalcification | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Small (per specimen) | $9.60 |
| 6 | Create/embed cell pellets (per specimen) | $32.50 |
| RH# | Processing & Embedding in Paraffin, per specimen | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Routine | $9.66 |
| 9 | Large for 2X3 slides | $15.21 |
| RH# | Facing Cassette & and First Section (slide or tube) | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Routine | $6.95 |
| 11 | Routine with molecular precautions | $9.95 |
| 12 | Large, 2X3 slides | $28.00 |
| 13 | Large, 2X3 slides with molecular precautions | $36.00 |
| 16 | 20 micron thick sections (per slide only) | $32.00 |
| RH# | Serial Sectioning (slide or tube), per section | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Serial section, routine specimen | $4.25 |
| 18 | Serial section, molecular precautions | $8.00 |
| 19 | Serial section, large specimen and whole eyes | $7.75 |
| 20 | Serial section, large specimen and whole eyes, molecular precautions | $16.25 |
| 21 | Step section, routine specimen | $6.75 |
| 22 | Step section, molecular precautions | $12.50 |
| 23 | Step section, large specimen and whole eyes | $9.25 |
| 24 | Step section, large specimen or whole eyes, molecular precautions | $18.25 |
| RH# | Frozen Sections | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Embed in OCT if necessary, rapidly freeze tissue | $18.00 |
| 26 | Cut slides, face block, and first slide | $33.00 |
| 27 | Additional sections (per section) | $18.00 |
| 28 | Fix cut slides, formalin, acetone, or alcohol-based (per slide) | $5.00 |
| RH# | H&E Staining, per slide | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | H&E performed on one unstained FFPE or frozen section slide | $7.25 |
| 30 | H&E stain for 2X3 slide or larger | $15.00 |
| RH# | Special Staining (paraffin unless indicated), per slide | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Iron (Prussian Blue) | $20.00 |
| 32 | Congo Red | $20.00 |
| 33 | Masson Trichrome | $20.00 |
| 34 | Martius Scarlet Blue (MSB) | $20.00 |
| 35 | Oil red O (Frozen sections ONLY) | $20.00 |
| 36 | Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) | $20.00 |
| 37 | Other special stains (not listed above) | $38.00 |
| 38 | One-time validation fee for new/unlisted special stain | $200.00 |
| RH# | Immunohistochemistry & Digital Spatial Profiling | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | BRPC non-DAB chromagen charge (per chromagen, per slide) | $15.00 |
| 43 | Titer one antibody and optimize detection method | $1,450.00 |
| 44 | Single antibody or probe on one slide (charged multiple times for multiplex, control included) (per slide) | $39.06 |
| 45 | Pass-through DUHS IHC Lab First Ab (per slide) | $39.06 |
| 46 | Pass-through DUHS Image cytometry single Ab Manual | $64.82 |
| 47 | Pass-through DUHS Image cytometry single Ab Comp Asst | $76.56 |
| 48 | Pass-through DUHS IHC Lab unlisted charges | Contact |
| RH# | Miscellaneous | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Tech time (30 minute increment) | $75.00 |
| 60 | 20-place slide folder | $5.60 |
| 61 | 25-place slide box | $11.20 |
| 62 | 100-place slide box | $14.40 |
| 63 | Consumables/Non listed lab supplies | Contact |
| 64 | Expedite $0-$500 job | $100.00 |
| 65 | Expedite $501-$1,500 | $300.00 |
| 66 | Expedite $1,501-$3,000 | $600.00 |
| 67 | Expedite >$3,000: Please speak with lab | Contact |
| Archival paraffin case request (per case) | $24.50 | |
| Pathologist case review/approval for cutting (per case) | $30.00 | |
| Manual coring with or without re-embedding (per block) | $77.00 | |
| Whole slide image of standard 1x3 slide at 20X or 40X, single plain (per slide) | $7.50 | |
| Whole slide image of cytology 1x3 slide at 20X or 40X, single plain (per slide) | $15.00 | |
| De-identify a WSI file (per slide) | $2.50 | |
| Return WSI to investigator by data transfer (internet/ media based, media purchased separately) (per batch transfer) | $65.00 |
Price lists for CHTN investigators can be found here: CHTN Price List.
Turnaround time varies depending on the project, specific services requested, and the number of samples involved in the project.
Yes – please clearly state on your request form that you have provided your own and label the containers to make sure they are used and returned to you.
Yes – please clearly state on your request form that you would like them returned and label the containers to make sure they are returned to you. If we do not have an indication that your container should be saved, it may be disposed of.
Yes – we can only ensure your samples are both returned to you and handled per your specifications if we can match them with a list. Providing a typed list also ensures the lab can accurately label any slides, as handwriting on blocks often smears during processing.
No – our lab is open daily from 9:30-11AM and 3-4:30PM. Please feel free to stop in during these hours and someone will be available to assist you. Staff may be working in other lab spaces outside of these times, so please contact us if you need to make other arrangements.
Ask staff about current turnaround time (this depends on project size, complexity, current staffing, and other pending projects) – a rush may not be necessary for the project to be completed by your deadline.
We used charged slides manufactured by Cancer Diagnostics for the majority of our output. We also stock FisherBrand SuperFrost (recommended for IHC work), Cancer Diagnostics uncharged, and FisherBrand ProbeOn Plus slides, which can also be used upon request. If you have your own slides that you would like the lab to use, those may be provided during project drop off.
Our molecular precautions procedure requires our technicians to spray down all equipment and tools with an RNAse inhibiting spray, use molecular grade bottled water in waterbaths, wear gloves, and change microtome blades between individual samples. We always use this procedure when alerted that samples will be used for RNA extraction, and strongly encourage it for DNA extraction as well. This procedure is not necessary for standard staining or immunohistochemistry.
Yes – please contact Dr. Zuowei Su directly for any questions relating to IHC antibodies and work ups.
Yes – please let us know your samples will need extraction so we can coordinate with Dr. Xufeng Chen, who provides this service.
Yes – please let us know which slides need to be imaged and we will do so after staining. Alternatively, slides stained prior may also be sent for imaging only.
