Pathology Core Facility (PCF)

Tissue microarray (TMA) technology allows for the efficient analysis of tissue from many samples. Different size diameter cores of tissue from over one hundred tissue samples can be placed into an array and slide-based assays can be performed on this single block. This is powerful, state-of-the-art technology that allows evaluation of many tissues on a single slide while minimizing issues of variability.

TMA procedures at PCF can be done on the semi-automatic Veridiam Tissue Microarrayer VTA-100 or the Manual Tissue Arrayer by Beecher Instruments MTA-1 to create tissue microarray blocks. TMA is a technology which facilitates research by permitting the collection of biological specimens (primarily tissues) representing many patients without requiring a great deal of storage space. TMA facilities comparison of the histological characteristics of different patients' pathologies by placing many different cores of tissue together on the same TMA block, and then sectioning for microscopic slide evaluation. The TMA block, depending of the diameter size, can have in it up to couple hundreds cores. A corresponding map records each cores location in the grid and the information connected with it in an Excel sheet. The array sections can be used for all histological staining, including Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and In situ hybridization (ISH).

See also Histology Lab.

Available TMA Creation Types