Histology cores
Take requests with sample sheets, follow each block through processing, sectioning, and staining, log technician time, draw reagents from stock, and bill the work.
Who it is for
A histology core runs most of its work as services: blocks and slides arrive with a request, move through processing, embedding, sectioning, and staining, and go back with a charge. ConductCommons keeps each request with its samples, stages, technician time, reagents, and bill, beside the instruments researchers book themselves.
What the core runs
Add any instrument your core shares. These are common examples.
Microtomes and cryostats
Booked by trained researchers, or used by staff for requests
Tissue processors and embedding stations
Booked by the run, with reagent changes on the calendar
Slide stainers, coverslippers, and IHC stainers
Run by staff for H&E, special stains, and IHC requests
Slide scanners
Booked for whole-slide imaging, with training checks
How it fits histology work
Researchers request H&E, unstained or frozen sections, special stains, or IHC, answer the questions you set, and list their blocks: typed, pasted, or uploaded as a CSV or Excel sample sheet with its columns matched and every row checked.
Core plan
Each service has its stages, such as received, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining, and delivered, with a target in days. Staff mark each stage with its date; researchers see where their work is and when it should be done, and stages past target show as late.
Core plan
Give technicians the staff role in the histology facility and they see and work its requests: stages, samples, results, and completion, without being workspace managers. Assign a request to one of them with a due date.
Core plan
Staff log time on each request by day and stage. Training and assisted sectioning billed by the hour start from the billable time logged, and the staff time report groups hours by person, service, stage, or month.
Core plan
Each service lists the reagents it uses per slide or per request. Completing a request takes them from stock, oldest expiry first, and owners and managers are emailed when an item reaches its reorder point. Stock is kept by lot and expiry date.
Core plan
Price each service per sample, per hour, or per request for each price group, send estimates the researcher accepts, and bill completed requests on the monthly statement for each project or account.
Core plan
Researchers book microtomes, cryostats, and the slide scanner after training, with an optional expiry. Cores that do not check training can turn the check off.
Plans for weekly reagent rotation on the processor and stainers, cryostat defrosts, and yearly service visits remind managers when each comes due. A problem report emails the managers, and downtime blocks the calendar.
Choose Histology when you set up the core: a tissue processor, embedding station, microtomes, cryostat, stainers, coverslipper, slide scanner, and fume hood open with their rules, along with six services with their stages and the maintenance plans. Change anything later.
Questions
Yes. A CSV or Excel (.xlsx) file is matched to the service’s sample columns by name, in any order, and every row is checked before the request is sent. Each service has a template to download.
A service lists its stages with a target in days for each. Staff mark a stage done with its date, and the next stage starts the same day. The request shows days per stage, late stages, and the expected finish, and the requester can be emailed at the stages you choose.
No. The staff role in a facility lets a person work that facility’s requests and log their time. Workspace managers keep the service list, budget overrides, and reports.
No. Reagents drawn by a service are covered by its price and only change your stock. Supplies you charge separately can be recorded on the request and go on the statement.
The request is not completed until the amount is changed, more stock is received, or the draw is skipped, so your stock record never shows more used than there was.
Other kinds of core: flow cytometry, light microscopy, NMR, genomics, core facilities, and behavior cores. How requests work: Take and run service requests.
Every new workspace includes the Core plan for 30 days. After that, booking stays free; rates, invoices, and service requests need the Core plan.