Sample Submission / Shipping Information

Thank you for your interest in using the Muscle Enzyme Histochemistry Lab, in the Department of Biomedical Research at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.  Samples for enzyme histochemistry and immunofluorescence require snap-frozen tissue.  The charges for our technical services are listed on the sample request form (included) with the appropriate CPT code. Our CLIA certification number is listed above.

All payments are made facility to facility, by pre-approved Business Associates Agreement (BAA). We do not accept any samples requiring direct patient billing. Agreement arrangements can be made through Greg Stets, Assistant Administrator for Research (302-651-6804), and require an open P.O. from the requesting facility. Samples will not be accepted until an approved/signed document is in place. 

Turn-around-time for a standard histochemistry panel is generally 5-7 business days (with IF, 5-10 business days). Once testing is completed, your sample slides will be returned to you by FedEx, and the appropriate charges will be applied. Special histochemistry and/or immuno-histochemistry (IHC) are also available and listed on our request form with CPT and charge. Services from the lab represent the technical services only and do not include interpretation or professional consultation.

A snap-frozen sample must be shipped by FedEx overnight first delivery, or by pre-arranged courier. FedEx instructions are included. The snap-frozen sample should always be shipped in 5-7 lbs of dry ice. Please call the lab prior to mailing any sample and always provide the FedEx tracking number to us. We will contact you when slides are ready to be returned and supply the return tracking number to you.

Again, thank you for your interest.

Thank you,

Carol A. Barone, HT (ASCP) BAAS
Technical Director – Muscle Enzyme Histochemistry Lab
Nemours-Department of Biomedical Research
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
302-651-6771 (lab)
302-651-6827 (office)
302-651-5010 (fax)
cbarone@nemours.org

For snap freezing: Sample size should be 50 -100 mg of tissue (the approx. size of 1 to 2 [#2] pencil erasers).

• The isopentane should be pre-chilled: Place the isopentane in a metal beaker suspended in the liquid nitrogen for 2-3 minutes, or until a white frost appears around the inside of the beaker (insufficient pre-chill will result in freezing artifact in the sample).
• While beaker is in pre-chill: Mount the sample onto a piece of cork (1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm) in transverse section, with a  small dollop of 8% tragacanth gum (from bottom up, you should have cork, tragacanth, then sample) The sample should not be placed down into the tragacanth, but rather just anchored at the base. 
• The sample mounted on the cork should then be completely immersed in the pre-chilled isopentane and agitated for 45-60 seconds. Smaller samples will require less time in the isopentane. Larger samples should be divided into smaller pieces, measuring relatively, as noted above. Once snap-frozen, the sample should be transferred to a pre-chilled container (-20°C or colder), and packed deeply into 5-7 lbs of dry ice for shipment by FedEx, or stored at -70°C until transported.

Shipping Instructions*: Samples for muscle enzyme histochemistry must be shipped snap-frozen, FedEx overnight as next day, first delivery to:

Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Department of Biomedical Research
Muscle Histochemistry Lab / ARB 264
1600 Rockland Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
Attention: Carol Barone /ARB 264

Currier deliveries are accepted between 8:00am and 4:00pm.

*Please do not ship samples after Thursday within a normal work week.   Samples are not accepted on holidays and weekends.

Contact information

Technical Director:

Carol Barone, HT(ASCP), BAAS
302-651-6827 (office)
302-651-6771 (lab)
302-651-5010 (fax)

Shipping Services

Lab Billing and Coordinator: Bobbie Boyce
302-651-6771

Billing services

Sr. Budget/Financial Analyst: Denise Axsmith
302-651-6802

Business Associates Agreements

Assistant Administrator Research: Greg Stets
302-651-6804