The main activities of the laboratory support the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic evaluation of patients by performing histological, cytological, molecular Biology, immunohistochemical examinations and autopsy findings. The facility also conducts anatomic-clinical and experimental research as well as teaching activities: internships, tutorials, dissertation internships and teaching activities relative to Degree Courses, Medical Area Specialization Schools; PhD.
The Molecular Biology preanalytical laboratory ensures the acceptance, preparation, extraction of nucleic acids (or possibly other biomolecules), qualitative-quantitative evaluation of extracted nucleic acids, storage and disposal of biological materials for molecular examination for both diagnostic and research purposes.
The samples analyzed are: fresh, frozen, fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, cytological preparations or blood.
Main equipment on hand, also owned by or shared with AOUPR:
- Instruments for biological specimen acceptance, handling, storage and disposal (cutting stations for histological specimens, fume and laminar flow hoods, chemical filtration suction cabinets, cytocentrifuges and refrigerated centrifuges, microtomes, cryostats, washing and thermodisinfection machines, autoclaves, freezers/fridges).
- Equipment for histological specimen preparation--mainly automated system--(processors, kerosene inclusions, slide mounts, stainers, slide and/or cassette printers).
- Morphological analysis stage of cytology/histology preparations: optical microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, computerized systems for image analysis (mostly in medical offices).
- Tools for sample preparation for molecular examination: acceptance, preparation of biological matrix (e.g., fresh and fixed tissues, body fluids, blood), extraction of nucleic acids (or possibly other biomolecules), qualitative-quantitative evaluation of extracted nucleic acids for downstream techniques (PCR, RT-q PCR, sequencing, fragment analysis, genotyping, expression analysis).
