Tissue Processing
TISSUE PROCESSING
The Tissue Processing facility, located in Room 2305 in 4 Riverside Circle, provides histology services and instruction to all Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers.
Equipment
- Tissue processor for formalin fixed tissues, Tissue Tek
- Tissue embedding station, Tissue Tek
- Microtome, Leica HistoCore AUTOCUT, fully motorized
- Cryostat, Leica CM1850
- Vibratome for fixed and non-fixed tissue
- Sliding Microtome, Leica SM2010 R
- Automated stainer, Sakura HistoTek SL
- Nikon Histology microscope with 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 60 lenses and image stitching capabilities for large tissues
- Water baths, ovens, manual staining equipment
Special Stains
| Stain | Application | Method |
| Hematoxylin and Eosin | Tissue pathology and inflammation | Automated |
| Safranin O | Cartilage | Automated |
| Giemsa | Nucleated blood cells | Automated |
| Immunohistochemical staining | Investigator defined | Manual |
| Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) | Basement membrane | Manual |
| Oil Red O | Adipose tissues | Manual |
M1 Cost of Attendance 2021-2022
- Months in Calendar: 11
- Year of Graduation: 2025
- Tuition: $54,653
- Fees - billed by school: $1,429
- Board Exams - (Projected): 0
- Textbooks and Equipment: $970
- Medical and Dental Insurance (Estimated): $3,628
- Residency Interviewing Costs: 0
- Living Expenses: $14,839
- Transportation Expenses: $3,223
- Personal/Misc. Expenses: $3,586
- Loan Fees: $474
- COA Totals: $82,802
M2 Cost of Attendance 2021-2022
- Months in Calendar: 12
- Year of Graduation: 2024
- Tuition: $54,653
- Fees - billed by school: $1,454
- Board Exams - (Projected): $645
- Textbooks and Equipment: $430
- Medical and Dental Insurance (Estimated): $3,628
- Residency Interviewing Costs: 0
- Living Expenses: $16,188
- Transportation Expenses: $3,516
- Personal/Misc. Expenses: $3,912
- Loan Fees: $498
- COA Totals: $84,924
M3 Cost of Attendance 2021-2022
- Months in Calendar: 12
- Year of Graduation: 2023
- Tuition: $54,653
- Fees - billed by school: $1,529
- Board Exams - (Projected): $645
- Textbooks and Equipment: $100
- Medical and Dental Insurance (Estimated): $3,628
- Residency Interviewing Costs: 0
- Living Expenses: $16,188
- Transportation Expenses: $3,516
- Personal/Misc. Expenses: $3,912
- Loan Fees: $498
- COA Totals: $84,669
M4 Cost of Attendance 2021-2022
- Months in Calendar: 11
- Year of Graduation: 2022
- Tuition: $54,653
- Fees - billed by school: $1,319
- Board Exams - (Projected): 0
- Textbooks and Equipment: $100
- Medical and Dental Insurance (Estimated): $3,628
- Residency Interviewing Costs: $5000 (Travel) and $678 (Residency-related Applications)
- Living Expenses: $14,839
- Transportation Expenses: $3,223
- Personal/Misc. Expenses: $3,586
- Loan Fees: $474
- COA Totals: $87,500
MRI/PET
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
MRI/PET Extended Run
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $150
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $150
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $150
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $90
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $240
MRI/PET Contrast ml
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $57
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $57
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $57
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $34.20
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $91.20
Micro PET/CT
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
Micro PET/CT Tracer mCi
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $31
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $31
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $31
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $18.60
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $49.60
Hematoxylin and Eosin
- Application: Tissue pathology and inflammation
- Method: Automated
Safranin O
- Application: Cartilage
- Method: Automated
Giemsa
- Application: Nucleated blood cells
- Method: Automated
Immunohistochemical staining
- Application: Investigator defined
- Method: Manual
Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)
- Application: Basement membrane
- Method: Manual
Oil Red O
- Application: Adipose tissues
- Method: Manual
MRI/PET
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
MRI/PET Extended Run
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $150
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $150
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $150
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $90
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $240
MRI/PET Contrast ml
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $57
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $57
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $57
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $34.20
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $91.20
Micro PET/CT
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
Micro PET/CT Tracer mCi
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $31
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $31
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $31
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $18.60
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $49.60
MRI/PET
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
MRI/PET Extended Run
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $150
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $150
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $150
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $90
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $240
MRI/PET Contrast ml
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $57
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $57
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $57
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $34.20
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $91.20
Micro PET/CT
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $250
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $250
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $250
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $150
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $400
Micro PET/CT Tracer mCi
- Internal Rate O&M 230994-12990: $31
- Internal Total (Banner Funds): $31
- External Rate O&M 230994-12997: $31
- External Rate OH 230994-12920: $18.60
- External Total (Bursar’s Office): $49.60
All charges are per hour
INTERNAL USERS
Internal (12990)
- O&M Fund (230284): $500
- Equipment Replacement Fund (230285): $0
- Internal Total: $500
EXTERNAL USERS
External (12997)
- O&M Fund (230284): $500
- Equipment Replacement Fund (230285): $0
- Subtotal: $500
External (12920)
- O&M Fund (230284): $0
- Equipment Replacement Fund (230285): $305
- Subtotal $305
- External Total: $805
Automated
- Hematoxylin and Eosin (Tissue pathology and inflammation)
- Safranin O (Cartilage)
- Giemsa (Nucleated blood cells)
Manual
- Immunohistochemical staining (Investigator defined)
- Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) (Basement membrane)
- Oil Rd O (Adipose Tissues)
- Begin by contacting either Scott Johnstone, Ph.D. (scottrj@vtc.vt.edu, 540-526-2296)
or Clare Dennison (cldennison@vtc.vt.edu) to schedule a training session. - Training will be as long as needed, depending upon the user's familiarity with the equipment.
- Once trained and approved, users can schedule time on the equipment. The facility director will provide calendar access.
- Users should supply their own slides, brushes, blades, and other consumables. If you lack these supplies, please contact the facility director.
- Please also record equipment use in the log book next to each instrument.
- Tissue processing and embedding
- Paraffin-embedded and frozen tissue sections for:
- Routine histology
- Special stain
- Immunohistochemistry
- Microscopes for histology imaging, includes large image stitching capabilities
Contacts
Facility Faculty Director
Scott Johnstone, Ph.D.
scottrj@vtc.vt.edu
540-526-2296
Facility Director
Clare Dennison, Ph.D.
cldennison@vtc.vt.edu