UMDNJ - ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE

Electron Microscopy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!   

Electron microscopy (EM) is valuable in addressing a wide variety of anatomic pathology problems. These include:

Storage diseases

Cilia disorders (immotile cilia diseases)

Whipple's disease and microsporidia

Miscellaneous: congenital bullous skin diseases

Tissue samples for electron microscopy should be submitted as 1 mm cubes in 2% buffered glutaraldehyde. Buffered formalin may be adequate; mercuric fixatives (B5, Zenker's) cannot be used. In selected cases, tissue can be retrieved from paraffin blocks and processed for EM.

In addition to tissue samples, representative H & E-stained slides as well as a completed EM requisition should be sent. Please also provide the results of any other studies (i.e. immunohistochemistry) to aid in our diagnostic evaluation. Tissue processing for EM requires 2-3 days. Results are reported by telephone, fax, and a final printed report.

Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature. We can provide glutaraldehyde fixative, EM requisitions, and pre-printed airbills upon request. Samples are accepted Monday through Friday.

Samples in 2% glutaraldehyde may be multiple, but should not exceed 1mm in dimension because of the penetrating abilities of this fixative. If glutaraldehyde is unavailable please contact us by phone 615-322-3070 or by e-mail, and we will provide you with specimen containers containing this fixative. Formalin, or other fixed tissue is also usually adequate if no glutaraldehyde is available. Sometimes a paraffin embedded specimen can be used, but with some sacrifice of quality.

Return to Homepage