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Histology Core

The Histology Core is a research-based lab located at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center.

The lab's mission is to provide high quality individualized histological services in order to facilitate productivity and success of investigators based in the Rangos Research Center and researchers in other units of the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, as well as clients in other academic institutions in the Pittsburgh area. 

Services and Fee Schedule

Review our available services and pricing. For special orders/requests, please contact the core.

Slide scanning resources:

  • Visit this link to download the Leica ImageScopex64 software for Windows to view Slide Scanner images (.svs files) provided by the core.
  • Unless a researcher provides the core with a flashdrive to store their images, all scanner images will be uploaded to a ShareDrive folder and shared with the researcher. These images will remain available for 30 days, after which time they will be deleted from the shared folder to free up space for other orders.

Consultations and Work Requests

NEW OCTOBER 2025: The Rangos Histology core has implented the iLab software for order intake and requests for services. Please use the iLab Work Request to submit all orders to the histology core. The previous online work request through Jotform will be deactivated. 

***For an individual to submit a service request to the histology core through iLab, they will need to be part of their PI's Group/Lab and have granted permission with the specific cost center to pay for potential services. 

Please see below some helpful resources for getting started in iLab, like how to register as a user and using the core facilities in iLab: 

To facilitate researchers and fulfill our mission, investigators are required to consult with the core's director before starting a new project. Investigators will also work with the core's histologist for optimization of the technical aspects of a project. Researchers seeking services of the Histology Core are required to complete a Work Request and Disclosure Form, in which the Investigator Disclosure ensures staff safety and responsible conduct of research in compliance with federal requirements and University guidelines. 

All requests for services will be handled in the order they are received.
Phone

Directory

Contact members of the Histology Core.

Guidelines for Submitting Samples

  • External labs without full access into to the Rangos building can drop off samples at the main entrance of Rangos (near the Ronald McDonald house entrance) in the large blue/gray cabinet just inside the automatic doors - please be sure to alert the core via email as soon as samples are dropped off

  • Submitted samples to be paraffin-embedded should be submitted in 70% EtOH (not PFA!), grossed appropriately, and separated by tissue type.

  • Short and simple sample names are ideal for ensuring a quick turnaround and accuracy of sectioning

  • Do not assume that the core knows what you want done with your tissues, no matter how many times you have ordered services from our core. There are multiple people working on orders in the core, so please be clear when specifying what you want done regarding embedding, sectioning, and staining

Acknowledgment

Please use the following text when acknowledging the core in published works or manuscripts:

“The authors acknowledge the resources and services provided by the Rangos Histology Core Facility, a shared facility in the Rangos Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh.”

Please send the citation/publication link acknowledging the core facility to pitthistologycore@pitt.edu

This is a resource that guidelines how the core’s efforts need to be acknowledged in the published work.

Feedback Requested

In order to continue improving our protocols and services, we are asking for researchers to take a moment to leave honest feedback pertaining to their histology orders. To this end, please visit this link to complete a short survey regarding your recent order.