The Pathology Integrative Resource Core (PIRC) provides an array of pathology-related services to support basic, clinical and translational research at Seattle Children’s. To best serve the needs of investigators and staff, the PIRC will merge efforts with the Cancer Biorepository at the hospital, the Pediatric Clinical Research Center (PCRC) and the PCRC lab.
Services
Our team of research coordinators and technicians provide a broad range of expertise in histology, tissue microarrays, photography support, DNA and RNA isolation, electron microscopy, specimen banking and other comparative pathology services. Services include:
Histology services
- Formalin fixed paraffin embedded
- Cut unstained slides
- Thick cut ribbon
- Snap frozen tissue in cryovial or cassette
- Embed, cryosection, cut slides
- Fresh tissue
Molecular studies
- DNA isolation from fresh or frozen tissue sample
- DNA isolation from blood/saliva
- RNA isolation/QC check from fresh or frozen tissue sample
Shipping
- Shipping via courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
- Shipping via shuttle to Seattle Children’s buildings, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington Medical Center
Staining
- H&E
- AFB/Fe/PAS/PAS-D/Alcian blue/LFB/GMS/Reticulin/WG
- MT/VVG/Congo/Sirius/Steiner/colloidal/Fe/ORO/Gram Pentachrome
- Established immunostain
- Antibody workup
- Dual immunostain
- Immunofluorescence
- Dual immunofluorescence
- Triple immunofluorescence
Storage
- Freezer storage (-80°C)
- Liquid nitrogen storage
Tissue microrays
- TMA setup with tissue provided by investigator
- TMA setup with tissue provided by core
- TMA construction (tissue core placement in TMA block)
- Unstained slides from TMA block
Electron microscopy
- EM tissue processing/embed
- EM sectioning and scoping
Additional services
- Cytospin preparation
- Lysosomal Acid Lipase (LAL)
- Processing of urine and blood
- PBMC isolation
- Bone marrow processing with Ficoll
- Urine Pregnancy Test or Urine Dip
- Day sample pickup from OR, preparation, transfer to investigator
- Off-hours sample pickup from OR, preparation, transfer of frozen or fresh to investigator
Location and Hours of Operation
PIRC is located on 8th floor of the Ocean zone at Seattle Children’s main campus. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To request PIRC services, please visit Request PIRC Services. For other inquires, core personnel can be reached at 206-987-2792 or by email.