Covance offers anatomic pathology histology services to meet the unique needs of your study.
Embedding and Sectioning Services
Routine and nuclease-free embedding, re-embedding, and sectioning services
- Special handling available for samples to be used in genomics studies eliminates contamination from other samples or by nucleases that could degrade the DNA/RNA present in the specimens
- Variety of nucleic acid purification services including state of the art Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) RNA extraction
Sectioning of paraffin-embedded tissue or cell blocks using state of the art microtomes
- Sections from 2-10 microns thick
- Thick sections from 11-20 microns thick
- Level sectioning and deeper sectioning to survey through the block
Sections can be mounted on slides or captured in micro centrifuge tubes for downstream processing
- Both standard glass and positively charged slides are available
- Polyethylene napthalate (PEN) slides for Laser Capture Microdissection are available
- Standard and nuclease-free micro centrifuge tube options
Staining Services
Covance offers a menu of histochemical stains performed in-house. Control sections are included for each patient sample stained with special stain protocols.
- Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) — Routine H&E staining highlights nuclear and cytoplasmic structures in tissue
- Wright's Giemsa Stain — Specifically used in histology to show differentiated blood cell types in bone marrow biopsies and aspirates
- Masson's Trichrome Stain — Used to differentiate between collagen and smooth muscle in tumors, and the increase of collagen in diseases such as cirrhosis; a routine stain for liver and kidney biopsies
- Mucicarmine Stain — Used to stain mucin secreted by epithelial cells and connective tissue cells
- Periodic Acid-Schiff Stain — For the demonstration of basement membranes, fungus secreting adenocarcinoma from undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and mucosubstances secreted from the epithelia of various organs; Hematoxylin and Light Green counterstains are available
Studies involving anatomic pathology services typically include the need to manage embedded tissue blocks and slides. Covance offers specialized specimen management services for anatomic pathology specimens including pathology report imaging, block ID confirmation, anatomic site and sample integrity verification. All slides and tissue/cell blocks receive bar coded labels for reliable identification and tracking.
In addition to these in-house services, Covance also works closely with partner laboratories to meet all of your unique anatomic pathology and histology needs.