FAQs

Detailed step-by-step guidelines for preparing samples for paraffin embedding and for freezing in OCT are available on our iLab page under the “Request Service” tab. Please click the corresponding link to open, view, and print the instructions.

Decalcification removes calcium from hard tissues (e.g., bone, cartilage, teeth) and is performed after fixation. It can be done in your lab or by the Core. After decalcification, rinse samples in distilled water, place in 70% ethanol, and submit to the Core. Contact Histology Core staff for guidance on the best protocol for your project.

To submit samples, please complete a Paraffin Samples or Frozen Samples request in iLab and ensure all required fields (marked with red asterisks) are filled. Select all needed services by checking the appropriate boxes and use the displayed informational fields to provide details for each service line. Label all materials (containers with cassettes, slide boxes, antibodies, etc.) with the RHC number generated by iLab and the principal investigator’s last name. Print the completed request form and bring it along with your samples to RHC. Drop- off instructions for each sample type are available in iLab under the “Request Services” tab.

Samples may be dropped off during core operating hours by placing the completed forms and samples in the designated bins, trays, or folders. Be sure to follow the drop-off instructions in iLab for your sample type. Processing takes place on Tuesdays—orders for processing and embedding must be submitted before 3:00 PM on Tuesday to be completed within the same week. Orders submitted after this deadline will be processed and embedded the following week.

Consecutive (Serial) Sectioning means collecting tissue sections in the exact order they are cut from the block, with no gaps between them. Step Sectioning means skipping a set distance (measured in microns) between sections to capture tissue from deeper areas (levels) within the sample. For example, you might collect a section every 100 μm. Please keep in mind that the sections that are “skipped” are discarded.

Turnaround time depends on the number and size of projects currently being processed by the core. You can track the status of your order in iLab by reviewing the listed milestones. All processing and embedding will be completed within the same week if we receive samples by the processing deadline. Turnaround times are service-specific and may vary based on the queue. If you have a hard deadline, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate it.

When your order is complete, you will receive an iLab email. Pick-up instructions for each sample type can be found in iLab under the “Request Services” tab. Please sign out your order on the sheet in the designated area. If you selected the “Image/Analysis” option on the request form, your slides will be sent directly to the Research Tissue Imaging Core (RTIC) for scanning. A separate scanning and analysis request must be submitted through the RTIC iLab page.

For projects performed by RHC staff, we encourage discussing advanced staining plans early on. An initial one-hour consultation is provided at no cost. Additional meetings—or consultations for projects conducted in your own lab — will incur a tech time charge. To request a consultation, please submit a consultation request through iLab.

The RHC offers a selection of commonly used pre -optimized antibodies for a fee. The link to the list of antibodies we carry can be found on the iLab page under the “request services” tab. We also have a database of antibodies we have worked with in the past, so even if we don’t carry the stock, we might have a suggestion for the antibody that worked well in the past. If the antibody you need is not available, you will need to purchase it yourself and submit it with your samples. Please note that any new antibody that we don’t have prior experience with must be optimized before use in your experiment.

Turnaround time depends on factors such as the level of optimization required, the number of submitted samples, and the number of active projects. For urgent cases, please contact Maria Sverdlov at mariasve@uic.edu to discuss your deadline and possible accommodations.

We encourage researchers who are new to histology to contact us early in their project, but we are available to discuss and provide guidance at any stage of the research process.

FFPE and frozen preparations each have advantages and limitations. Paraffin provides superior tissue morphology, long-term storage, safer sample handling, and wide antibody compatibility. Frozen sample preparation is required for lipid stains, enzyme histochemistry, and preservation of fluorescence from an introduced fluorescent tag. Some antibodies are optimized for only one method, which may guide your choice. If you’re unsure which approach is best, please contact us to discuss your project.

To use the microtome or cryostat, all users must first complete training with a staff member, regardless of prior experience. Training requests are submitted through iLab; once your request is placed, staff will contact you to schedule a session. After completing training, you will receive access to the scheduling calendar to reserve instrument time. Please note that users are responsible for providing their own sectioning supplies. We request that users complete “Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Training for Research” offered via UIC EHSO before scheduling training on the cryostat

The RRC requests that all services provided by the Research Histology Core Facility be acknowledged in publications and presentations. Please use the following format for acknowledgements:

Histology services were provided by the Research Histology Core at the University of Illinois Chicago, part of the Research Resources Center, which was established with support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.