Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core
- About Us
- Our Services
Advancing Children’s Medicine Through Histological Techniques
The Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core Lab (HTPC) is a full-service histology laboratory that provides routine and specialty histology techniques for internal, academic,and corporate investigators.Ìý
As part of ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children’s Hospital, Delaware, the core has been in continuous operation since 1986. We are part of the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). Our team has published numerous papers, posters, abstracts, and articles that have contributed to the works of many investigators. The lab follows LEAN practices and is staffed by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)-licensed histologists and research technicians.
The lab has a wide array of instrumentation, and provides consultation for research projects for special staining, enzyme histochemistry, immuno-histochemistry, and routine processing. We also offer tissue microarrayÌý(TMA) services and can prepare slides from normal controls or provide custom arrays from provided sample blocks.
Our Leadership
Heather M. Hardy, MBA, HT (ASCP)
Director, Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core
Lab Accreditations & Certifications
Our lab maintains the highest standards of quality and accuracy to support research:
- Members of our team are licensed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, demonstrating our advanced expertise in this field.
- We follow LEAN laboratory management practices, providing precise results with fast turnaround times.Ìý
Part of Our Core Research Infrastructure
Core labs and services at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· provide essential capabilities that advance pediatric research. Explore additional resources available to investigators across the system.
Biobank & Molecular Analysis Program
DELAWARE VALLEY & FLORIDA
Our CAP-accredited biorepository has 15,000+ pediatric specimens, offering researchers collection, processing, compliance, storage, and analysis services.
Biomedical Research Informatics Center
DELAWARE VALLEY & FLORIDA
We consult, train, and provide computational resources for researchers, offering experimental design, data mining, analysis, and software application development.
Cell Science Core
DELAWARE VALLEY
We specialize in flow cytometry, cell sorting, cell culture, and protein analysis, allowing researchers to study conditions like cancer and autoimmune disease.
Research Support Services
We provide high-quality histologic services and consultation to support tissue-based research. These insights lead to better treatments and improved care through clinical breakthroughs in pediatric medicine.
Research Applications
We support innovative research programs, including:
- American Lung Association's Novel Digital Diary study, examining respiratory symptoms in young children.
- Collaborations with researchers studying within pediatric gastroenterology, cardiology, neuroscience, endocrinology, orthopedics, urology, and more.Ìý
Services We Offer
Our team provides both routine and specialized histology services, supporting research that ranges from common conditions to rare pediatric disorders.ÌýWe provide a wide variety of services, including:
- Tissue processing: Preparing tissue samples using both frozen and paraffin embedding methods to preserve their structure for analysis.
- Microtomy services: Using specialized precision cutting techniques to create ultra-thin tissue sections for detailed microscopic examination.
- Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stainingÌýor basic tissue structure analysis: Using special dyes to reveal detailed tissue structure and organization.
- Special stains: Using specialized dyes to highlight specific tissue components like connective fibers, nerve cells, proteins, and other cellular structures.
- Cytology: Preparing individual cells to detect abnormalities to support research.
- Enzyme histochemistry: A specialized analysis to detect specific enzymes in muscle tissue to understand how muscle diseases develop and affect muscle function.
- ImmunohistochemistryÌýstaining: Using antibodies to identify specific proteins in tissues to study disease processes and treatment effects.
- Immunofluorescent staining: Using special antibodies that glow under specific light to identify multiple proteins within the same tissue sample.
- Custom antibody development: Creating specialized tools that can detect specific proteins unique to certain diseases or conditions.Ìý
- Tissue microarrays: A specialized technique allowing researchers to study multiple small tissue samples at the same time.
- Advanced microscopic imaging: Capturing high-resolution photos of tissue samples to document findings and share results.
Equipment & Facilities
Our state-of-the-art facility features specialized equipment for precise tissue analysis. We use:
- Specialized stainers for H&E processing
- Dedicated stainers for immunohistochemistry
- Cryostats for preparing frozen tissue sections
- Advanced microscopes for detailed tissue examination
- Microtomes for precise tissue sectioning
- Automated staining systems for consistent H&E and immunohistochemistry results
- Tissue microarrayer for efficient sample analysis
- Tissue processor for sample preparation
How to Work With Us
The Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core Lab uses iLab Solutions for all service requests. To get started:Ìý
- Current iLab users:Ìý.Ìý
- New users can for an account.Ìý
For more information, please email the lab directly.
Shipping Specimens to Our Facility
Send samples to:
¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core Lab
1600 Rockland Road
Attention: DuPont Experimental Station
Building E400, Room 5240
Wilmington, DE 19803
HistologyResearchCore@nemours.org
Shipping notes:
- We use FedEx for shipping.Ìý
- Our team is fully trained in human biospecimen shipping, and we’re available for advice.
- The sender pays for all shipping costs, including packaging materials.Ìý