Ever wonder how we peer into the microscopic world of cells and tissues? Welcome to the fascinating realm of histology! It’s a science that’s pivotal to everything and plays a critical role in numerous scientific and medical endeavours from cutting-edge research to clinical diagnoses and drug development. But what does the journey of a tiny tissue sample look like within the world of professional histology services?
Sample Preparation
Imagine you’re a scientist with a tissue sample in your hand. What’s next? It’s time for sample preparation, the first crucial step in the histology process. This is where you preserve or “fix” the tissue to keep its structure intact and prevent any degradation. This involves acquiring a tissue sample from the source, whether it’s an animal, human patient, or cell culture. The method of fixation can vary depending on the sample type and the analysis to be performed later.
At HistologiX, we’re old hands at this. We handle a range of samples: wet tissue, frozen tissue, cells, and even bone/calcified samples. If your samples are already FFPE or sectioned, we can handle these too. Our team is here to help you on every step of the way in your projects. So you can focus on your region of interest and get top-notch preparation for the staining and analysis that follows.
Trimming and Blocking
So, you’ve got your prepared tissue sample. Now, it’s time for the next stage of the journey: trimming/sectioning and blocking. Trimming involves dissecting the wet tissue to present region of interest and sectioning involves cutting sections and mounting onto slide. Blocking then involves embedding the tissue appropriately in wax and mounting them onto a slide for further analysis.
Our team at HistologiX have honed their skills in trimming and blocking across many species and tissue types. We even delve into the complex world of customised processing to evaluate medical devices in situ. It’s all in a day’s work for our team.
Specialised Staining and Analysis
Once the tissue sample has been prepared and mounted onto a slide, it’s ready for staining. Stains are the unsung heroes of histology, highlighting different structures within the tissue and making them visible under a microscope. At HistologiX we offer an extensive range of special stains in addition to the standard haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. We even prepare custom thickness sections to match your chosen stain.
After staining, the slide is ready for analysis. This could be a simple visual examination under the microscope or a detailed investigation using advanced imaging techniques. The aim is to identify any abnormalities in the tissue that may indicate disease or injury.
Professional histology services, like those provided by HistologiX, offer comprehensive support, from sample preparation to specialised staining and analysis. These services are crucial in advancing scientific understanding, diagnosing diseases, and developing new treatments. Through expert guidance, the histology process can be navigated effectively and efficiently, ensuring high-quality, reliable results for researchers and clinicians alike. You can learn more about our Histology services here or get in touch with one of our team
Professional histology services include a range of tasks such as sample preparation, trimming and blocking, specialised staining, and detailed analysis of tissue samples. These services, like those provided by HistologiX, help in everything from research and diagnosis to drug development and clinical trials.
Sample preparation is the first step in histology services. It involves acquiring a tissue sample, then preserving or “fixing” it to maintain its structure and prevent degradation. At HistologiX, we handle various sample types including paraffin-embedded samples, frozen tissue, and cells, as well as bone/calcified samples.
Staining is a crucial step in histology services. It involves using special stains to highlight different structures within the tissue sample, making them easier to see under a microscope. HistologiX offers an extensive range of special stains in addition to the standard haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
After staining, the tissue sample is ready for analysis. This can involve a simple visual examination under a microscope or a more detailed investigation using various imaging techniques. The goal is to identify any abnormalities in the tissue that may indicate disease or injury.
HistologiX offers comprehensive histology services, from sample preparation to specialised staining and analysis. Our experienced team is equipped to handle different types of samples and provide expert guidance throughout the histology process. Whether for research, clinical trials, or diagnosis, HistologiX ensures high-quality, reliable histology results.
Meet the Team
Elaine Foster BSc
Elaine is the Cellular Pathology Manager at HistologiX. She is responsible for the management and coordination of our immunohistochemistry studies. With her extensive practical experience of IHC techniques and assay development, she is well placed to support Clients from project proposal to completion of study report.
Elaine began her scientific career in histopathology working on breast and colon cancer tissues and performing IHC & radioactive-ISH assays before moving into a research lab working on IgA nephropathy. Prior to joining HistologiX, she helped set up GLP procedures for a large contract research laboratory.
