Access is provided to the Histology Core following training on the use of the various pieces of equipment. For safe operation by users and to maintain the equipment in uninterrupted, optimal operating conditions, the following operational rules have been put in place.
- The Histology Core facility is a research and learning center, not a service center. It provides histology equipment and staff expertise, and trains users to work independently.
- Users must be properly trained before they can use the equipment. It is a multi-user shared equipment facility and, as such, all users bear the responsibility for proper operation and maintenance of the facility and its instrumentation.
- The Histology Core facility is open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, assistance is only available during normal working hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Equipment use is scheduled. All equipment should be booked online. Tardiness of more than 20 minutes will result in forfeiture of reserved time and anyone can claim this period.
- For some equipment, users must sign log books to indicate amount of usage in order to schedule replacement of reagents by the Core Specialist.
- For scientists not holding grants with Research at St. Michael’s Hospital and not paying Research Core Facilities fees, we offer a variety of services. Please contact the Core Specialist.
- The Histology Core facility is available to researchers outside Research at St. Michael’s Hospital on a fee-for-service basis. Prior to accessing the equipment, it is recommended to contact the Core Specialist in order to discuss the intended experiment(s) to identify any experimental considerations and which equipment is best suited to your needs.
- External users should register with the Core Specialist to fill out a form and to track hours of use.
- The Histology Core facility is not responsible for lost samples and paraffin blocks. Make sure your samples have been saved safely.
- All users are expected to follow the rules and work in a safe, courteous and collegial manner.
