FAQ

  • How do I sign up as a new user?
  • Where are you? What are your hours?
    • Top floor of the Dental Tower, room D11-41.
    • Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-F, closed UF holidays
    • Phone: 273-7749.  Email: molecular@ufl.edu
  • What equipment is available for self serve?
    • Microtomes, cryostat, embedding station, Zeiss microscope- See Equipment.
    • Bring your own microtome/cryostat supplies or purchase from the Core.
  • What are your turnaround times (TAT)?
    • These are approximate times as they will depend on the current workload as well as the complexity of your submission.
    • If you need a quicker turnaround time, please ask the staff to expedite.
    • Process and embed fixed samples (P&E)- 1-3 days. Samples are placed in a paraffin processor in the afternoon to run overnight. Embedding starts the next morning and samples are ready by mid-morning. Processing is performed when there are enough samples to keep operating costs as low as possible.
    • Unstained slides- 0.5-1 day depending on the number of blocks, # slides/block, and any special requests for sectioning.
    • H&E and special stains- 1-3 days.
    • IHC: 5-10 workdays.
  • How do I fill out the Submission form?
    • Download and save the WORD form on your computer.
    • Fill in the required fields and check all boxes next to the services you need.
    • If making tissue blocks, fill in the table for cassette IDs or send a list in Excel.
    • Fill in any special requests and talk to a staff member when you drop off your samples.
    • Email the completed form to molecular@ufl.edu.
  • Do you accept clinical samples?
    • Only those for research studies.
  • How do I submit the samples?
    • Bring tissues in cassettes in a leak-proof container labeled with the PI’s name and container solution (PBS, 70% ethanol). Let us know if you want your container returned otherwise, it will be recycled.
    • Sign the log form at the submission counter and leave your samples on the counter.
    • Provide slide boxes or purchase from the Core when getting back slides.
  • How do I know when my samples are ready?
    • You will be notified by email.
    • Pick up your samples where you dropped them off.
    • Initial and date the original submission form and leave it in the red folder.
    • If you want an electronic copy of the services performed, ask at pick up or request by email.
  • How do I fix and prepare the samples before submission?
    • Discuss your project with Core staff to ensure optimal results for your experiments. There are many good online links.
    • Adequately fix your samples and transfer them to 70% ethanol or PBS before bringing them to the core. Minimize time in ethanol to no more than 10 days.
  • What size should the tissue samples be?
    • Optimal is not thicker than a nickel or 3-4 mm.
    • If your tissue touches the cassette sides, it is too big. If it touches the lid, it is too thick.
  • How do I label the cassettes?
    • Label cassettes with #2 pencil or solvent-resistant markers (listed below). Labels with Sharpies and some other ink pens can wash off during paraffin processing.
    • Approved marking pens include:
      • Cancer Diagnostics Moist Marker Plus from Lab Safety Supply
      • HistoPrep Pen from Fisher Scientific
      • Klinipath KP Marker Plus from Mercedes Medical
      • Stafmark Pen from Statlab Medical Products
  • Will your lab accept samples in other fixatives besides NBF like 4% paraformaldehyde?
    • Yes- all fixatives are accepted.
    • Transfer your fixed samples out of fixative before submitting so you are setting the fixation duration.