Tissue

Frozen tissue biospecimens are snap frozen in liquid nitrogen within 15-30 minutes after devascularization. Standard weight of the sample is 0.5 – 1.0 gram (On Client’s request, the sample can be larger than 1.0 gram, but it also depends on tumor type and size). Samples collection, processing and storage are carried out according to the BioPartners SOPs. All steps are regularly monitored by the certified specialists. Samples can be frozen directly in the histocassette, or a cryovial, or with OCT gel as a tissue block. Tissue samples will be stored on LN2 vapors or at -70°C in low-temperature freezers, frozen samples never undergo thawing during their storage. Temperature of storage is monitored by temperature loggers. Frozen samples can be shipped either on dry ice or on LN2 vapors.

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples are produced from tissue fixed in neutral formalin for minimum 12 hours, processed in accordance with approved protocols. Standard size of the sample before fixation is approximately 1x1x0.4 cm.  Multiple sections (100-300 x 5 µm) can be cut from a single FFPE block. Our FFPE blocks are successfully used for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and conventional histochemical staining.

Fresh tissue samples (tumor, normal or diseased) will be delivered to European samples requestor in 24-48 hours after resection/ tissue collection. Delivery to the USA will take up to 72 hours. Standard weight of the sample is 0.5 – 1.0 gram (On Client’s request, the sample can be larger than 1.0 gram, but it also depends on tumor type and size). Fresh tissue (usually immersed in transport media – its type depends on Client’s request) can be shipped at ambient temperature, cooled or chilled (+2°C – +8°C) in special insulated shipping boxes provided by certified currier company or in NanoCool 2-8°C Specimen Shipping System.

TMA as a sample type is constructed using accurately selected FFPE tissue samples from multiple patients. Our pathologists thoroughly analyze morphology of every tissue before removal of the tissue cores and transferring these tissue cores into a positionally encoded array in a recipient paraffin block. Multiple sections (100-200) can be cut from a single array block, allowing for hundreds of analyses per microarray. Tissues used for TMA construction are anonymized to protect patients’ confidentiality, however, if necessary, tissue cores can be traced back to their donor FFPE block to request any additional tissue/ samples.

BioPartners has an extensive experience in procurement such samples as tissue isolated cells derived from fresh tissue fragments (solid tumor, lymph node, trephin biopsy). After dissociation of the tissue fragment and washing the cells, the number of living cells in a single sample will be detected manually (with hemocytometer) or using automated cell counter. Aliquots with isolated cells are gradually frozen and transferred into LN2 vapors for long storage.

Histology glass slide is prepared by microtoming (3-4 µm thick) and H&E staining of the FFPE or TMA sample.

The 3DHISTECH Pannoramic DESK DW II digital scanner is used to prepare diagnostic quality whole slide image scans (WSI) at 20x magnification. Scanned slides may be viewed at any magnification up to the scanning resolution. Approximate size of the digital slide will be between 700MB and 2.5Gb. The 3DHISTECH Pannoramic DESK DW II digital scanner is networked to the local MS WINDOWS based server with installed Case Viewer 2.4 software. Digital slides can be delivered on DVD (in case of 1-2 glass slides), external hard drive, uploaded to the HIPAA/GDPR compliant cloud or directly downloaded from the temporary dedicated partition from our server.. The slide viewing software will be provided as well. To our clients we also can grant short-time access to our WSI archive in order to view the images of available  samples prior the purchase. Access to the WSI archive will be provided using RDP protocol. 

Additionally, we can annotate regions of interest and quantify histologic features (measurements) for every WSI.