The Research Histology Laboratory is an integral and essential component of the Department of Pathology. It functions as the histology laboratory of the BioRepository & Precision Pathology Center, with the primary role of providing specialized support to the autopsy service and multiple investigators at Duke. The Research Histology Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility that provides routine and specialized histological services, as well as immunohistochemical stains. The staff provides assistance with respect to the proper collection and fixation of the tissue, immunohistochemical staining procedures, and the evaluation of the stains.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm
Designated drop off and pick up times: 9:30-11:00am; 3:00-4:30pm
Location for General Histology Services: Duke South Green Zone, Room 254
Contact Information
Phone: 919-684-6209
Email
Director: Shannon J. McCall MD, 919-684-2531
Research Program Leader:
Laboratory Manager:
Scientific Director: Zuowei Su PhD, 919-684-1727
Staff:
Emily Knutson, HT (ASCP)
Ronald Patterson, HT
Laura Sparks, HT
Jeffrey Groth, HT (ASCP); part time
Services Offered
- Routine paraffin processing, embedding, and sectioning
- Hematoxylin and eosin (H+E)
- Frozen Sectioning
- Immunohistochemical Staining
- Special staining
- Tissue microarray creation
Stains
Please call if you need a stain not listed here. Contact Dr. Zuowei Su at 919-684-1727 to discuss your immunostaining needs, and see the list of our currently available stains. If the antibody you need is not on our list, then please contact Dr. Su for advice and assistance. A list of some commonly requested stains are:
- PHF-TAU
- Beta Amyloid Protein (BAPP)
- Alpha-Synuclein
- BAF47, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD15, CD31, CD34, CK(AE1/AE3), CK14
- Cleaved Caspase 3
- Estrogen Receptor Alpha, F4/80, FoxP3, GRP78, HAM56, HMB45, Ki67, GFAP, Mart-1, Neurofilament (NFP), p53, S100, Synaptophysin
Special Stains
- Congo Red
- Cresyl Violet
- Luxol Fast Blue
- Mikat
- Masson Trichrome
- Martius Scarlett Blue (MSB)
- Oil Red O (frozen sections only)
- Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)
- Periodic Acid Schiff – Diastase Digestion (PAS-D)
- Toluidine Blue
Instrumentation
- Sakura Tissue Tek VIP 5 tissue processors
- Sakura Tissue Tek 5 tissue embedding console
- Leica RM2235 manual microtome
- Thermo Scientific Microm HM355S automated microtomes
- Leica CM 1800 cryostats
- Thermo Scientific CryoStar NX70 cryostat
- Leica Autostainer XL H&E Stainer
- Medite RCM7000 automatic coverslipper
- Ventana Discovery Ultra automated immunohistochemistry staining system
- Caliper Life Sciences TMA Master tissue microarrayer
Request for Histological Services
To request histological services, please complete this form and a manifest (may be word, excel, or any other document with a complete list of your samples and sample IDs), and send it to path-RHL@duke.edu. Forms may also be dropped off in person along with your project and manifest.
Fees
Staff

Zuowei Su, PhD
Scientific Director
Office: 919-684-1727

Emily Knutson, HT(ASCP)
Histotechnologist
Office: 919-684-6209

Ronald Patterson
Histotechnologist
Office: 919-684-6209

Laura Sparks
Histotechnologist
Office: 919-684-6209

Jeffrey Groth, BA HT(ASCP)
Histotechnologist
Office: 919-668-2177