ULAM Pathology Core

Microscopic zebrafish imageThe ULAM Pathology Core is a recharge-based research pathology laboratory run by the  Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM).The core provides anatomic and clinical pathology services to the U-M research community as well as diagnostic support for the veterinary care program. Oversight is provided by board-certified, veterinary pathologists with extensive experience in research pathology. Technical staff have certification and/or experience in histology or animal health related fields. Only projects utilizing animal tissues or de-identified (research only) human tissues are supported. Quality assurance is maintained through the use of internal SOPs and participation in an externally administered quality assurance program.

The ULAM Pathology core provides only pathology-based services. For technical assistance with live animal procedures, please see the ULAM Technical Services team.  

ULAM Pathology Core missions: Research and diagnostic support

  • Research submissions: ULAM Pathology Core research support services are available on a recharge basis by direct submission to ULAM Pathology Core. 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: ULAM Pathology Core 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 MSAB 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.

ULAM Pathology Core Services

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

  • Rodent and large animal necropsy or tissue collection by ULAM Pathology Core personnel
  • Use of large or small animal necropsy room for necropsy by investigators
  • Tissue trimming and cassetting for histology by ULAM Pathology Core 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

ULAM Pathology Core Frequently Requested Information

Expand each section below for additional information.

ULAM Pathology Core 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 ULAM Pathology Core 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).

 

ULAM Pathology Core 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 ULAM Pathology Core 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-pathologycore@umich.edu

 

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

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

ULAM Pathology Core Necropsy Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Tissue Preparation
Trim/Cassette (Paraffin or OCT) $  12.71 07/01/2023
Decalcification (tissue in cassette) $  11.00 07/01/2023
Decalcification (larger tissue) $  15.84 07/01/2023
 
Necropsy
Fixed Animal Necropsy $  86.48 07/01/2023
Small Animal Necropsy $  79.38 07/01/2023
Medium Animal Necropsy $  166.32 07/01/2023
Large Animal Necropsy $  354.82 07/01/2023
Large Animal Biohazard Necropsy $  468.47 07/01/2023
Necropsy Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2023
Necropsy Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2023

 

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

ULAM Pathology Core Histology Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Standard Histology Procedures
Paraffin Processing & Embedding $  6.34 07/01/2023
Paraffin H&E Slide Simple^ (section & stain) $  8.00 07/01/2023
Paraffin H&E Slide Complex (section & stain) $  12.00 07/01/2023
Paraffin Unstained Slides Simple^ (returned unstained) $  6.00 07/01/2023
Paraffin Unstained Slides Complex (returned unstained) $  9.00 07/01/2023
Paraffin Unstained Slides (Specials or IHC) $  6.00 07/01/2023
H&E Stain only (slide provided by PI) $  5.62 07/01/2023
Frozen H&E Slide (section & stain) $  15.48 07/01/2023
Frozen Unstained Slide (returned unstained) $  14.08 07/01/2023
Frozen Unstained Slide (Specials or IHC) $  14.08 07/01/2023
Histology Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2023
Histology Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2023
Cryostat (self-service)/Hour $  11.50 07/01/2023
     

^Simple: visceral organs (kidney, liver, etc.), up to two sections per slide, skin, or GI (non-step, non-serial)

Complex: step sections, serial sections (>2), >2 of any tissue per slide, bone sections, non-rodent brain sections, specialized tissue targets (cardiac valve leaflets, etc.)

 
Immunohistochemistry Stains
IHC aSMA $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC CD45R-B220 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC CD3 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC CD4 $  48.50 07/01/2023
IHC CD8a $  48.50 07/01/2023
IHC CD20 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC CD31 $  48.50 07/01/2023
IHC Cleaved Caspase-3 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC F4/80 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC GFP $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC Ki67 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC Ly-6G $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC Lyve-1 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC Mac2 $  42.38 07/01/2023
IHC Von Willebrand Factor $  48.50 07/01/2023
IHC Negative Control $  44.83 07/01/2023
IHC Stain, Paraffin, Other (antibody provided by PI) $  44.83 07/01/2023
IHC Stain, New Antibody Optimization Slide $  52.18 07/01/2023
IHC Stain, Frozen, Other (antibody provided by PI) $  50.95 07/01/2023
 
Special Histochemical Stains
Special Stain Gram $  49.25 07/01/2023
Special Stain Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) $  49.25 07/01/2023
Special Stain Masson Trichrome (MTC) $  20.00 07/01/2023
Special Stain Masson Trichrome Verhoeff (MTCV) $  28.15 07/01/2023
Special Stain Other $  42.22 07/01/2023
Special Stain Picrosirius Red (PSR) $  28.15 07/01/2023
Special Stain Prussian Blue $  42.22 07/01/2023
Special Stain Toluidine Blue $  28.15 07/01/2023
Special Stain Verhoeff Van Gieson (VVG) $  49.25 07/01/2023
Special Stain Alcian Blue (AB) $  28.15 07/01/2023
Special Stain Alcian Blue PAS (AB-PAS) $  49.25 07/01/2023
Special Stain Alizarin Red $  42.22 07/01/2023
Special Stain Congo Red $  42.22 07/01/2023
Special Stain Luxol Fast Blue PAS (LFB-PAS) $  49.25 07/01/2023
Special Stain Oil Red O (ORO) $  42.83 07/01/2023
Special Stain Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) $  28.15 07/01/2023
Special Stain Ziehl Neelson $  49.25 07/01/2023

 

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

ULAM Pathology Core Clinical Pathology: Hematology, Chemistry, Diagnostic Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Serum Chemistry
1 Chemistry Only/Animal $  26.48 07/01/2023
Custom Panel, 2 Chemistries/Animal $  43.04 07/01/2023
Custom Panel, 3 Chemistries/Animal $  54.61 07/01/2023
Custom Panel, 4 Chemistries/Animal $  63.68 07/01/2023
Custom Panel, 5 Chemistries/Animal $  67.50 07/01/2023
Add-on (to panel), One Chemistry $  7.58 07/01/2023
Full Chemistry Panel $  74.78 07/01/2023
Electrolytes $  25.63 07/01/2023
Mini Chem Panel $  54.66 07/01/2023
Mini Liver Panel $  30.60 07/01/2023
Pig Full Chemistry Panel $  80.08 07/01/2023
Liver Panel $  53.99 07/01/2023
Renal Panel $  38.95 07/01/2023
 
Hematology
Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/ Auto Differential $  28.48 07/01/2023
Blood Smear (prep only) $  14.39 07/01/2023
Manual (WBC) Differential $  40.68 07/01/2023
Reticulocyte Count $  41.14 07/01/2023
Hematocrit, Spun $  19.78 07/01/2023
PT/PTT $  75.76 07/01/2023
 
Other Clinical Pathology
Total Protein, Refractometer $  23.10 07/01/2023
Urinalysis, Complete $  48.26 07/01/2023
Urinalysis, Routine $  46.91 07/01/2023
Fecal Flotation $  43.22 07/01/2023
ADL Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2023
ADL Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2023
Laboratory Sendout Processing Fee $  28.41 07/01/2023
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.

ULAM Pathology Core Aperio® Digital Slide Scanning Rates* 

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
Digital slide scan, Technician Labor/Hour Regular $  60.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, Technician Labor/Hour Overtime $  90.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 20x, batch >50 slides, each $  8.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 20x, batch 20-50 slides, each $  10.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 20x, <20 slides, each $  12.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 40x, batch >50 slides, each $  9.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 40x, batch 20-50 slides, each $  11.00 07/01/2023
Digital slide scan, 40x, <20 slides, each $  13.00 07/01/2023

ULAM Pathology Core Pathologist Rates*

DESCRIPTION RATE EFFECTIVE
ULAM Pathology Core Pathologist Hourly Rate $  250.00 07/01/2023

 

*Rates subject to change.

ULAM Pathology Core 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 ULAM Pathology Core's lab services, contact ulam-pathologycore@umich.edu.