Services

 IHCF staff is happy to provide consultation on experimental design and approach, including:

• project/protocol planning and design
• optimum specimen collection and preparation
• instrument operation and training
• image/data collection

The IHCF offers users a full spectrum of both transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy services at modest rates. Services can be performed by IHCF staff or by trained users utilizing IHCF equipment and materials.

These services include:

• specimen preparation (including chemical fixation, microwave tissue processing, sectioning of cells and tissues or preparation of non-cellular materials)
• operation of equipment
• data acquisition
• data interpretation
• training on all aspects of EM analysis
• microanalysis

The IHCF provides a broad range of histological services available on a fee-for-service basis that include:

• tissue fixation
• standard paraffin processing and embedding methods
• sectioning
• routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of paraffin sections
• additional special stains to highlight specific cells, tissue components, bacteria or other cellular features are available upon request
• coverslipping

Light microscopy and other services

The IHCF houses a confocal microscope, digital microscope, and a variety of dissecting and compound microscopes. Staff are available to train users on proper technique and sample preparation.