Full Service Facilities

There are a number of reasons to use a full-service facility.
  • Full-service labs allow investigators to "pay as you go".
  • Service labs typically use newer equipment that receives regular maintenance.
  • The staff in the facilities often have decades worth of experience.
  • If you are trying something new, a full service lab can walk you through the entire process.

Consultation & additional support
The Cellular Imaging Facility Core is ready and available to come alongside SWEHSC investigators and their labs to ensure the best possible research outcomes.
 

Paraffin/Frozen section Histology & Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

TACMASR (University of Arizona Cancer Center) - Users bring fixed or snap-frozen tissues to the Lab and in a week to 10 days they should expect to have microscope slides. Slides can be stained with routine and special stains, or left un-stained so that users can perform immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF) on their samples. Users can have TACMASR perform computer-controlled IHC or in situ hybridization (ISH) on their samples using one of TACMASR's previously verified antibodies. Advice and microscopic analysis by a board certified Pathologist is available.

Whole Slide Imaging (WSI)

TACMASR (University of Arizona Cancer Center) - users will drop off slides for scanning with instructions regarding the magnification required (2x, 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x) and the imaging mode required (color transmitted light, color polarized light, up to 5 channel fluorescence). After the scanning is completed users will be given access to a digital file that represents the scanned area, users can navigate around the large image and zoom in and out, much like "Google Earth". Image analysis routines can be developed in the Nikon software if required.

Electron microscopy (EM)

Imaging Cores - Electron (RII Core Facilities) - This facility specializes in biological transmission EM. Users bring fixed samples and can expect either 1um plastic sections, TEM grids, or TEM digital photos, depending on their research needs. The Keck Imaging facility in Chemistry can perform scanning EM of biological samples.

Flow Cytometry & Human Immune Monitoring

Flow Cytometry & Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (RII Core Facilities & University of Arizona Cancer Center) - This facility provides full-service flow cytometry and cell sorting capabilities. Their workhorse instrument, a BD FACSAria III, can count 11 different characteristics simultaneously, is BSL2 compliant, and can sort into 4 different sub-populations. Additional information is available at the UACC's website.