Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization

Locus-specific EGFR probe (orange) and centromere 7 probe (green): Not amplified

The Cytogenetics Core offers fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) services for a variety of specimen types, including nonparaffin, paraffin and paraffin tissue microarray.

FISH can be performed to enumerate the copy number of cancer-related genes and patterns of gene-related gains and losses; map the location of DNA sequences, genes or transgene insertions; and determine the presence or absence of interspecies cells in xenograft or chimeric animal models.

Details

Locus-specific EGFR probe (orange) and centromere 7 probe (green): Amplified

• Nonparaffin FISH. Slides are processed and analyzed (counted) by the Cytogenetics Core, which includes image documentation. FISH is performed on interphase or metaphase cells that have been dropped on a slide or grown on a cover slip. Samples may be in the form of cultured cells or fresh or frozen tissue. Among others, specific cell types include blood, bone marrow, tumors, cell lines, xenografts, hybrid cells from chimeric animal models, neural stem cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
• Paraffin FISH. Paraffin-embedded tissue must be cut 5 micrometers thick and mounted on positively charged slides. Slides are processed and analyzed by the Cytogenetics Core. Analysis includes image documentation.
• Paraffin FISH tissue microarray. Paraffin-embedded tissue cores must be sectioned 5 micrometers thick and mounted onto a single slide. Slides are processed — deparaffinized and set up — by the Cytogenetics Core. Slides are analyzed by the core on a "per sample core" basis. Analysis includes image documentation.
• FISH probes. Commercially available locus-specific probes, centromere probes and whole-chromosome paint probes are used when available. The core also offers custom probe development.
• FISH imaging only. Slides are set up by the Cytogenetics Core. Images are captured as the only result — no counting.

Fees

The cost for each project depends on services completed. This information is provided in each project quote, which must be approved by the principal investigator prior to project initiation.

Contact

For more information or to initiate a project, contact the core at 507-284-0128 or by email.