In-Vivo Animal Core

Microscopic zebrafish imageThe In-Vivo Animal Core (IVAC) is a core laboratory run by the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM). Our mission is to provide histology, hematology/clinical chemistry, and pathology services in support of non-clinical research and the veterinary care program at the University of Michigan.

Our faculty and staff have years of experience encompassing academic biomedical research, pharmaceutical and environmental toxicology, and diagnostic veterinary pathology.

IVAC missions: Research and diagnostic support

  • Research submissions: IVAC research support services are available on a recharge basis by direct submission to IVAC. Recharge rates are approved by the University and are based upon cost-recovery. Estimates and letters of support are available and pre-project consultation is encouraged. See Service Areas below for available services, rates, and submission instructions.
  • Animal Diagnostic submissions: IVAC also provides diagnostic pathology services to the veterinary care program. These services are for the identification of unanticipated animal illnesses and are not recharged to the investigator. Results are provided to the researcher, but diagnostic pathology reports are not intended to provide controlled research data. Diagnostic pathology services are available by contacting the ULAM Veterinary Care Team.
  • Our main laboratory is located on the ground floor of B36 in the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) and our satellite facility is in the ARF building on the Medical Campus. Samples may be dropped off/picked up by appointment at either location with daily sample courier service between the campuses.

IVAC Services

Expand each section below for service details and rates, or request services in MiCORES.

  • Rodent and large animal necropsy or tissue collection by IVAC personnel
  • Use of large or small animal necropsy room for necropsy by investigators
  • Tissue trimming and cassetting for histology by IVAC personnel
  • Necropsy RATES
  • Paraffin processing/embedding
  • Frozen and paraffin sectioning
  • Hematoxylin and eosin staining and special histochemical stains
  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
  • Self-service frozen sectioning (animal tissues only)
  • Histology/Immunohistochemistry RATES
  • Clinical pathology: Animal hematology/clinical chemistry & diagnostic testing
  • Complete blood counts (CBC) using Heska HT5 Element (Heska)
  • Serum chemistry using Liasys analyzer (AMS Alliance)
  • Cytology, including blood smears
  • Other testing: Urinalysis, parasitology
  • Biological indicator verification (sterility strip verification)
  • Microbiology and other diagnostic services (through external laboratories)
  • Clinical Pathology RATES
  • Digital slide scanning using Leica Aperio AT2® scanner
  • Publication-quality images
  • Digital slide files suitable for image analysis and quantitative morphometry
  • Digital slides scanning RATES

IVAC Frequently Requested Information

Expand each section below for additional information.

IVAC Lab Submissions (Necropsy, Histology, Clinical Pathology, Slide Scanning, Pathology): 1-2-3

  1. Submit a request in MiCORES for any of the following services:
    • Necropsy, Histology, and Pathology Requests
    • Digital Scanning Requests
    • Clinical Pathology Lab Requests
    • Outside Laboratory Requests (shipping samples to an outside lab)
  2. In the request, note your sample drop-off date/time and location preferences. An appointment will be scheduled for you by the IVAC Team.
  3. WAIT for a confirmed appointment, then bring your samples in a clean secondary container at the time of your appointment. Label your samples with the Service ID from your request (as found in your appointment confirmation email).

 

IVAC Sample Submission Guidelines

Samples may be dropped off at either location (below) by appointment only. Submit your request for services in MiCORES and note your sample drop-off date/time and location preference. An appointment will be scheduled for you by the IVAC Team.

Sample courier service is available daily between the two locations. Please email at least 24 hours in advance for hematology/chemistry requests.

Two weeks’ notice is requested for Research Necropsy Requests. Diagnostic necropsy requests (for spontaneous conditions unrelated to research) are made through the ULAM Veterinary Care Team.

     

MAIN: B36/G157A, NCRC
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 936-3395
ulam-ivac@umich.edu

 

SATELLITE: 3527 ARF
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

1150 W. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 936-3803
ulam-ivac@umich.edu

IVAC Necropsy Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Tissue Preparation
Trim/Cassette (Paraffin or OCT) $  12.10 07/01/2022
Decalcification (tissue in cassette) $  10.48 07/01/2022
Decalcification (larger tissue) $  14.40 07/01/2022
 
Necropsy
Fixed Animal Necropsy $  78.62 07/01/2022
Small Animal Necropsy $  75.60 07/01/2022
Medium Animal Necropsy $  151.20 07/01/2022
Large Animal Necropsy $  322.56 07/01/2022
Large Animal Biohazard Necropsy $  425.88 07/01/2022
Necropsy Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2022
Necropsy Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2022

 

Special considerations apply for projects with internal Medical School funding or to Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Consortium members; please inquire.

IVAC Histology Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Standard Histology Procedures
Paraffin H&E Slide (section & stain) $  9.18 09/01/2022
Paraffin Processing & Embedding $  5.51 09/01/2022
Paraffin Unstained Slides (returned unstained) $  6.12 09/01/2022
Paraffin Unstained Slides (for IVAC to stain, Specials or IHC) $  6.12 09/01/2022
H&E Stain only (slide provided by PI) $  4.89 09/01/2022
Frozen H&E Slide (section & stain) $  13.46 09/01/2022
Frozen Unstained Slide (returned unstained) $  12.24 09/01/2022
Frozen Unstained Slide (for IVAC to stain, Specials or IHC) $  12.24 09/01/2022
Histology Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 09/01/2022
Histology Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 09/01/2022
Cryostat (self-service)/Hour $  10.00 09/01/2022
 
Immunohistochemistry Stains
IHC aSMA $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC CD45R-B220 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC CD3 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC CD4 $  46.50 09/01/2022
IHC CD8a $  46.50 09/01/2022
IHC CD20 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC CD31 $  46.50 09/01/2022
IHC Cleaved Caspase-3 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC F4/80 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC GFP $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC Ki67 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC Ly-6G $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC Lyve-1 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC Mac2 $  40.38 09/01/2022
IHC Von Willebrand Factor $  46.50 09/01/2022
IHC Negative Control $  42.83 09/01/2022
IHC Stain, Paraffin, Other (antibody provided by PI) $  42.83 09/01/2022
IHC Stain, New Antibody Optimization Slide $  50.18 09/01/2022
IHC Stain, Frozen, Other (antibody provided by PI) $  48.95 09/01/2022
 
Special Histochemical Stains
Special Stain Gram $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Masson Trichrome (MTC) $  24.48 09/01/2022
Special Stain Other $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Picrosirius Red (PSR) $  24.48 09/01/2022
Special Stain Prussian Blue $  36.71 09/01/2022
Special Stain Toluidine Blue $  24.48 09/01/2022
Special Stain Verhoeff Van Gieson (VVG) $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Alcian Blue (AB) $  24.48 09/01/2022
Special Stain Alcian Blue PAS (AB-PAS) $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Alizarin Red $  36.71 09/01/2022
Special Stain Congo Red $  36.71 09/01/2022
Special Stain Luxol Fast Blue PAS (LFB-PAS) $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Oil Red O (ORO) $  42.83 09/01/2022
Special Stain Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) $  24.48 09/01/2022
Special Stain Ziehl Neelson $  42.83 09/01/2022

 

Special considerations apply for projects with internal Medical School funding or to Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Consortium members; please inquire.

IVAC Clinical Pathology: Hematology, Chemistry, Diagnostic Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Serum Chemistry
1 Chemistry Only/Animal $  24.75 07/01/2022
Custom Panel, 2 Chemistries/Animal $  40.22 07/01/2022
Custom Panel, 3 Chemistries/Animal $  51.04 07/01/2022
Custom Panel, 4 Chemistries/Animal $  59.51 07/01/2022
Custom Panel, 5 Chemistries/Animal $  67.50 07/01/2022
Add-on (to panel), One Chemistry $  7.08 07/01/2022
Full Chemistry Panel $  69.89 07/01/2022
Electrolytes $  23.95 07/01/2022
Mini Chem Panel $  51.08 07/01/2022
Mini Liver Panel $  28.60 07/01/2022
Pig Full Chemistry Panel $  74.84 07/01/2022
Liver Panel $  50.46 07/01/2022
Renal Panel $  36.40 07/01/2022
 
Hematology
Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/ Auto Differential $  26.62 07/01/2022
Blood Smear (prep only) $  13.45 07/01/2022
Manual (WBC) Differential $  38.02 07/01/2022
Reticulocyte Count $  38.45 07/01/2022
Hematocrit, Spun $  18.49 07/01/2022
PT/PTT $  70.80 07/01/2022
 
Other Clinical Pathology
Total Protein, Refractometer $  21.59 07/01/2022
Urinalysis, Complete $  45.10 07/01/2022
Urinalysis, Routine $  43.84 07/01/2022
Fecal Flotation $  40.33 07/01/2022
ADL Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2022
ADL Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2022
Laboratory Sendout Processing Fee $  26.55 07/01/2022
Microbial Culture please inquire
Animal Pathogen PCR (panels or single) please inquire

 

Special considerations apply for projects with internal Medical School funding or to Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Consortium members; please inquire.

The facilities are operated on a fee-for-service basis. Users are charged based on the amount of time technicians spend performing the services.

IVAC Aperio® Digital Slide Scanning Rates* 

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Digital slide scan, Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 20x, batch >50 slides, each $  8.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 20x, batch 20-50 slides, each $  10.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 20x, <20 slides, each $  12.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 40x, batch >50 slides, each $  9.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 40x, batch 20-50 slides, each $  11.00 07/01/2022
Digital slide scan, 40x, <20 slides, each $  13.00 07/01/2022

IVAC Pathologist Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
IVAC Pathologist Hourly Rate $  250.00 07/01/2022

 

*Rates subject to change.

IVAC Authorship/Acknowledgment Policies

To help us provide continued services, please remember to acknowledge the work of our core in your publications and presentations. We adhere to the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities policies on Authorship and Acknowledgment

Questions?

For questions, estimates, or consults about IVAC's lab services, contact ulam-ivac@umich.edu.