[Histonet] Human samples in university research lab

[Denise Crowley]

Hi all,

We are a research core facility processing animal tissues for cancer  
research.  We have been approached by a collaborator about bringing  
human sample to us for processing, sectioning, and routine H&E  
staining, for use in research, not diagnosis.  In the past, we have  
always encouraged these folks to have their slides cut at the  
clinical facility which is supplying the tissue.  But we are getting  
more and more of these requests and I need to think about the changes  
we would need to make in our protocols, both in the processing  
schedules and safety issues.  And I cannot even imagine the legal  
issues involved in transporting patient samples and informed  
consent.  Can anyone give me some guidance here?
Thanks,

Denise Crowley
Facility Manager Histology
David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
40 Ames St. E17-427
Cambridge MA  02139
617-258-8183
dencrowl <@t> mit.edu