Sample Submission
Always label cassettes with a pencil, since xylene and ethanol can remove markings made with permanent marker.
On the “Sample List for Histology” sheet within the Request Form workbook there are section to enter this information. As every study is unique if you have a question on where to include certain information reach out and our team will assist you.
Samples should be packaged securely to ensure they arrive in good condition.
Fixed tissues should be placed in a leak-proof container filled with 70% EtOH, sealed inside a secondary leak-proof bag with absorbent material, and cushioned inside a sturdy box.
Frozen or OCT-embedded samples must remain frozen, packed in a dry ice-compatible container with sufficient dry ice and insulation, and clearly labeled as frozen material.
All shipments should include your submission form and contact information, be sent via overnight or priority service, and coordinated with our team in advance so we can receive them immediately.
If you need results as quickly as possible, we offer an expedited service option that moves your project to the front of our workflow. Expedited requests receive priority processing, scanning, and analysis to help meet urgent timelines. Because this requires adjustments to schedules and dedicated resources, a 20% expedited service fee applies. If you are working under a tight deadline, contact us before submitting your samples so we can confirm availability and provide an estimated turnaround time.
Sample Prep
It is important to have a unique ID on each cassette so you can accurately match each sample with its corresponding slide. This is especially important if you identify something interesting and want to perform follow-up staining, antibody testing, or additional analysis later.
Tissues are typically fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) or 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 hours at 4°C, then transferred into 70% ethanol prior to processing and embedding.
We recommend placing no more than 3–4 small tissue pieces in a single cassette. Too many fragments can lead to tissue loss, folding, or uneven sectioning. For large or multiple tissues, use separate cassettes. If you do not have a cassette labeling system please use pencil (pen markings will wash off).
You may submit loose tissue in tubes. We can cassette the tissue for you for an additional charge. Please ensure the container is leak-proof and clearly labeled.
Yes. Fixed and frozen samples can be shipped to our facility. Frozen samples must be shipped on dry ice. Please contact us before shipping so we can provide packaging instructions and coordinate sample receipt timing.
This is tissue dependent and we can walk you through the best option for your project.
Not to worry we can provide them. However, there will be an additional charge for labeling the cassettes and transferring the tissues into them.
Antibody Selection
Start by selecting an antibody that has been validated for the specific application you need (IHC-FFPE, IHC-frozen, IF, or multiplex) and validated to react to your species of interest. Look for vendor data showing staining in tissues similar to yours, and review published literature for independent validation. If you are unsure, we can help evaluate options and recommend antibodies with strong performance records.
Yes! We routinely help investigators choose antibodies that are compatible with their tissue type, fixation method, and staining goals. If you share your target, species, and application, we can recommend vendors, clones, and formats that are most likely to produce reliable results.
When selecting an antibody, we ask that you provide the target protein and species, tissue type, fixation method used (FFPE, frozen, PFA, etc.), and intended application such as IHC, IF, or multiplex staining. It is also helpful to share any known expression patterns or expected cellular localization. This information allows us to confirm compatibility, anticipate potential challenges, and recommend the most reliable approach for your experiment.
Yes! We can perform antibody screening using multiple clones or vendors to identify the best performer for your tissue. Screening can include dilution testing, antigen retrieval optimization, and control staining. The client is responsible for supplying the primary antibodies and positive controls.
We maintain a list of antibodies that have shown consistent, high-quality performance across a variety of tissues. While we do not require you to use specific vendors, we are happy to share recommendations based on past success.
In general all primary antibodies are supplied by the client. Please ensure that the antibody is clearly labeled and shipped according to the vendor’s storage requirements.
Some antibodies work well even without formal FFPE validation, while others do not. If your antibody lacks FFPE validation data, we can perform a pilot test to determine whether it produces specific, interpretable staining if you can give us strong positive and negative control tissues.
We perform titration testing using a range of dilutions to identify the concentration that provides the best signal-to-noise ratio. Optimal dilutions may differ from vendor recommendations, especially in FFPE tissues.
Yes! We can assist with every step of multiplex antibody panel design, including selecting compatible clones, choosing appropriate fluorophores or chromogens, avoiding spectral overlap, determining optimal staining order, and ensuring antigen retrieval compatibility across all targets. Thoughtful panel design is essential for generating accurate, interpretable multiplex imaging results.
If staining is weak, nonspecific, or inconsistent, we will troubleshoot by adjusting antigen retrieval, antibody dilution, incubation times, or detection of chemistry. If the antibody still does not perform adequately, we can recommend alternative clones or vendors.
Digital Pathology/Image Analysis
We offer a wide range of quantitative analysis services, including cell counting, biomarker quantification, tissue segmentation, multiplex analysis, and AI-based tissue classification. HALO AI allows us to analyze brightfield, fluorescence, multiplex IHC, and whole-slide images with high accuracy.
We accept SVS, NDPI, SCN, MRXS, TIFF, and JPEG2000 whole-slide image formats. If your slides were scanned elsewhere, we can typically work with them as long as the resolution is sufficient for your analysis needs.
No. We can analyze slides scanned at other facilities as long as the image quality meets HALO’s requirements. However, scanning with HistoSpring helps ensure optimal resolution, color balance, and compatibility.
Most analyses require 20× or 40× whole-slide images. Nuclear- or membrane-based biomarkers, small cells, and multiplex fluorescence applications typically benefit from 40× scanning.
You can describe your scientific question, stain type, and desired outputs, and we will recommend the appropriate HALO or HALO AI module. We also offer consultations to help design the most effective workflow for your project.
Yes! HALO supports multiplex chromogenic and fluorescence imaging, including spectral unmixing, cell phenotyping, and spatial analysis.
Yes! HALO allows compartment-specific quantification, enabling precise measurement of nuclear, cytoplasmic, or membrane-localized biomarkers.
HistoSpring provides quantitative data tables (CSV or Excel), summary reports, annotated images with overlays, classifier performance metrics when applicable, and optional spatial maps or heatmaps as part of the final analysis deliverables.
Lab Space, Equipment & Services
There are a variety of flexible research environments available, including open bench space, private lab space, BSL-2 laboratory areas, and a dedicated tissue culture lab. These spaces support a wide range of life science workflows, from basic molecular biology to specialized histology and imaging projects.
There are many options to utilized lab space, contact us to discuss your specific needs for your project.
Our facility includes essential shared infrastructure such as deionized water, gas supply, chemical hoods, sterile cell culture and BSL-2+ facilities, autoclave and bottle wash services, ice machines, centrifuges, vortex mixers, shakers, and cold storage options including a cold room, refrigerators, -80°C freezers, and liquid nitrogen storage. This ensures researchers have reliable access to the core resources needed for day-to-day lab work.
We offer a range of specialized instruments to support advanced research, including flow cytometry systems, PCR instruments, plate readers, advanced microscopy, and a biological irradiator. These tools support high-quality workflows across cell biology, molecular biology, and translational research applications.
Yes. We provide training for researchers using shared equipment such as flow cytometers, plate readers, PCR systems, and other specialized instruments. Training helps ensure safe operation, proper instrument use, and high-quality experimental results.
