About the HRL
The Histology Research Laboratory (HRL) is a research core in the Department of Pathology at the University of Iowa fully devoted to translational research.
Our mission is to maximize the impact, relevance, and quality of research studies modeling human disease. We provide necropsy and histology services to the University of Iowa and external investigators through our lab and our companion lab the Comparative Pathology Laboratory (CPL).
Services
Histology services
- Tissue processing
- Paraffin embedding
- Sectioning with microtome (FFPE) or cryostat (OCT)
- Unstained slides
- H&E staining
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC), including optimization and validation
- Special Stains (DPAS, LFB, M. Trich)
- Custom immunofluorescence
- Combination staining
Tissue services
For questions or more information on tissue services, please visit the CPL website.
Service pricing
Please note: If projects require complex work above and beyond our standard workflow, techinican time will be charged per hour in addition to the service pricing at the discretion of the HRL staff.
Examples of complex projects include but are not limited to: sectioning multiple blocks on the same slide, embedding multiple pieces of tissue in one cassette, specific orientation of mutliple pieces of tissue on the same slide, etc.
| Tissue Service | Current Price | New Price (Effective 7/1/26) |
| Technician Time Unit (necropsy or trim time) | 30 per half hour | 30 per half hour |
| Sample decal—EDTA | 35 for small samples, 45 for large samples | 35 for small samples, 45 for large samples |
| Sample decal—Formic acid | 30 for small samples, 35 for large samples | 30 for small samples, 35 for large samples |
| Array block cores | 210.00 per 30 cores | 210.00 per 30 cores |
| Histology Service | Current Price | New Price (Effective 7/1/26) |
| Cassettes | 3.75 (updated 4/17/26) | 3.75 |
| Processing of fixed tissue | 3.75 per block | 3.75 per block |
| Processing of frozen tissue | 6.50 per block | 7.50 per block |
| Paraffin embedding | 3.75 per block | 4.00 per block |
| OCT embedding | 35.00 per 9 blocks | 35.00 per 9 blocks |
| Block set up fee | 2.95 per block | 6.00 per block |
| Sectioning per slide / sectioning per tube | 2.10 | 4.25 |
| H&E staining | 5.00 per slide | 4.00 per slide |
| Specialty staining | 7.60 per slide | 7.60 per slide |
| Immunohistochemistry (investigator-provided antibody) | 60.00 per slide | 60.00 per slide |
| Immunofluorescence (up to 3 investigator-provided antibodies)— mouse, rabbit, or chicken | 90.00 per slide | 90.00 per slide |
| Immunofluorescence (up to 3 investigator-provided antibodies)— other species | 100.00 per slide | 100.00 per slide |
| RNAscope (up to 3 investigator-provided probes) | 100.00 per slide | 130.00 per slide |
| Combined RNAscope and Immunofluorescence | 190.00 per slide | 220.00 per slide |
| Antigen retrieval only | 1.20 per slide | 1.20 per slide |
| Coverslip | 1.50 per slide | 1.50 per slide |
| Slide Box | 7.00 | 7.00 |
| Pathologist Time Unit (interpretation) | 250.00 per hour | 250.00 per hour |
| Clinical block prep and retrieval | 35.00 per hour | 35.00 per hour |
HRL Sample Submission Form
All requests for STAT projects must be reviewed/validated by Dr. Meyerholz. If approved, additional charges will be applied.
Contact us
Shared email: pathology-HRL@uiowa.edu
