FAQs

• Q: How do I arrange to have the MPSR examine my specimens?
  A: Fill out the Presubmission Form and email to the MPSR. An MPSR staff member will then contact you to schedule the submission of your samples.
• Q: What additional information would the MPSR find useful?
  A: It is essential that you note the strain and age of the animals. Any information you have on the gene targeted, the expression system utilized, or similar studies performed previously would be useful to MPSR personnel. Appropriate published references are particularly helpful.
• Q: Where do I bring my specimens?
  A: MPSR facilities are located in Goss Laboratory, 1925 Coffey Road. You must make specific arrangements with MPSR staff for delivery of mice.
• Q: Can I ship animals or samples to the MPSR?
  A: Yes. Samples from outside the Columbus area may be sent to the MPSR by courier. It is critical to make arrangements in advance in order for us to be able to receive your mice. These arrangements are made as follows:
  1. Once the pre-submission form is received by the MPSR, you will be contacted by MPSR staff to schedule your mice.
  2. MPSR personnel then fill out an "order" form for your mice.
  3. The Ohio State Research Foundation contacts you to authorize mouse shipment and provide you with the official shipping address for the mice.
  4. You make arrangements with an appropriate courier to transport the mice to OSU. Remember that all guidelines for proper shipping of live animals must be followed.
• Q: How long will it take to get my results?
  A: Because the MPSR workload is variable and resources are limited, we cannot guarantee delivery times for results. In general, final phenotype reports are sent out within 6 weeks of the time animals are received. Slides are generally ready within 2 weeks.
• Q: In what form will I receive my results?
  A: A preliminary report detailing gross findings is Emailed to you, usually within one week after mice are received. Word files containing final results are Emailed to you as soon as they are ready. CDs containing the final report and all digitized files are returned to you by mail. The final phenotyping report contains body and organ weights, serum chemistry and hematology results, gross photographs, scanned survey radiographs, photomicrographs of significant histologic lesions, lesion diagnoses, summary and interpretation of results, references as appropriate, and recommendations for further studies.
• Q: Will my results remain confidential?
  A: The MPSR will not release any information about your specimens to any other individual without your express permission. Some selected material may be used to teach veterinary pathology residents, but will not be used in scientific publications in any form without permission of the owner of the specimens.
• Q: What happens to the material generated during specimen processing (e.g., blocks and slides) after the project has been completed?
  A: All slides, tissue blocks, and radiographs are returned to you by campus mail or U.S. mail. Be sure to include your complete mailing address on the presubmission form. Some selected material may be used to teach veterinary pathology residents, but will not be used in scientific publications in any form without permission of the owner of the specimens.
• Q: Can the MPSR help me with custom immunohistochemistry?
  A: The MPSR can help you with some aspects of developing new immunohistochemistry techniques. In order to be able to help you, we must be able to employ formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, to perform all steps of the staining process at room temperature, and to utilize standard ABC reagents.
• Q: Do I need to bring a 100W with me when I deliver my samples?
  A: No. In fact, it is generally easier for us to bill you when the services are completed. It is critical, however, for you to include the appropriate billing information on each presubmission form.
• Q: How will I be billed?
  A: All billing is carried out by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC). For OSUCCC members, an online 100W is generated and Emailed to the Principal Investigator. For non-OSUCCC faculty members at OSU and non-OSU faculty, an invoice is mailed to the Principal Investigator.