The Investigative Toxicology/Pathology Core (ITPC) Laboratory has experienced staff maintaining a fully-equipped necropsy laboratory that can be used to assist investigators who require necropsy services gross necropsy examination, clinical chemistry, hematology, research project dissection, tissue collection and diagnostic histology. 

Tissue Collection and Fixation

The capabilities of the ITPC allow for tissue to be collected and fixed as per the necessity of each individual investigator. 

Clinical Chemistry

The Trilogy® Multipurpose Analyzer System allows for accurate and precise measurements of multiple samples. This instrument has the ability to analyze end points, enzymatic or first order kinetic reactions. Furthermore, different sample types (such as substrates and enzymes) can be analyzed simultaneously.
Assays:

PANEL 1

• Albumin
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP, ALP)
• Alanine transaminase (ALT, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, GPT)
• Aspartate transminase (AST, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, GOT)
• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
• Creatine Kinase (CK, creatine phosphokinase, CPK)
• Creatinine
• Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT, GGTP, GammaGT)
• Glucose
• Total Protein

PANEL 2

• Total Bilirubin (T-Bil)
• Direct Bilirubin (D-Bil)
• Cholesterol (Chol)
• Direct HDL
• Triglycerides (Trig)
• Lipase
• Carbon Dioxide
• Uric Acidy

Hematology

The Hemavet® Multi-species Hematology Analyzer provides quantitative, automated in vitro diagnosis. This instrument accurately determines values for hematologic parameters in order to distinguish normal samples and automatically flags for abnormalities. This system uses cell-by-cell analysis that occurs over an extended operating range, ensuring accuracy and precision even at very high cell counts.

Clinical Chemistry and Hematology Analysis Requirements & Clinical Chemistry:

• The approximate total amount of animal serum/plasma required to run one panel once is 200 µl. This means that the total amount of raw blood to be collected should be at least 600 µl. In order to obtain accurate clinical chemistry results samples must fit these criteria:
  • Temperature of 2-10°C
  • Samples need to be submitted within 4 hours of collection
  • At least 200 µl of plasma serum
  • If submitting plasma, samples must be heparanized with 50 µl of 50 ppm Heparin (~2.5mg of 202 units/mg Heparin per 10 ml of ddH20) for every 50 µl of raw blood
  • Both serum and plasma samples spun down in centrifuge at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes
• To prepare serum samples
  • Fast animals for at least four hours before collection
  • Prior to collection, prepare labeled 1.5ml micro centrifuge tubes
  • Collect blood from animals using 23 gauge needles, put into tubes and immediately put on ice
  • After about 30 minutes, spin samples in centrifuge at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes
  • Separate top translucent serum from bottom blood cells and put serum into new labeled 1.5ml micro centrifuge tubes with 100-1000 µl micropipette
  • Immediately bring samples (on ice) to MS B-60, or put samples in 2°C refrigerator and deliver within 24 hours.
• If submitting plasma rather than serum, prepare samples in this fashion:
  • Fast animals for at least four hours before collection
  • Prior to collection, prepare 1.5 ml micro centrifuge tubes with 50 µl of 50 ppm Heparin (~2.5mg of 202 units/mg Heparin per 10 ml of ddH20) for every 500 µl of raw blood
  • Collect blood into previously labeled tubes containing heparin and invert several times, then immediately put on ice
  • Spin samples down for 15 minutes at 10,000 rpm
  • Transfer top translucent blood plasma to new pre-labeled 1.5 ml micro centrifuge tube with 100-1000 µl micropipette
  • Immediately bring samples (on ice) to MS B-60, or put samples in 2°C refrigerator and deliver within 24 hours
• If the final serum or plasma volume is less than 200 µl, dilute samples and document dilution ratio (such as 1:1).

Hematology:

• The amount of raw blood needed per sample for hematological analysis is 50 µl. Samples must be prepared as follows:
  • Temperature of 25°C
  • In Sarstedt Microvette 100® Kalium/EDTA blood collection tube
  • Mixed well within collection tube
• For submitting samples for Hematological analysis:
  • Collect raw blood into 1.5 ml micro centrifuge tube
  • Dip capillary tube of Sarstedt Microvette 100® Kalium/EDTA blood collection tube into blood sample and collect 50 µl of blood
  • Remove capillary tube, and cap with cap provided (lavender)
  • Mix well by flicking tube gently
  • Immediately submit samples to MS B-60 for analysis.

If submitting blood for hematological analysis along with clinical chemistry analysis, samples cannot contain heparin. In this case, collect blood into empty 1.5 ml micro centrifuge tubes and dip capillary tube of Sarstedt Microvette 100® Kalium/EDTA blood collection tubes. Remove capillary tube, and cap with cap provided (lavender). Mix sample by flicking gently. 50 µl of 50 ppm Heparin for every 500 µl of raw blood can then be added to the remaining raw blood sample and the same procedure (numbers 3-6 of clinical chemistry analysis instructions for plasma) can be followed.